GENERAL55931

• Permit No: C1981032
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 1/20/1998
• Doc Name: PROPOSED DECISION & FINDINGS OF COMPLIANCE FOR SL2
• From: Partial Phase II & Full Phase III
• Permit Index Doc Type: Findings
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

INTRODUCTION
This document is the Findings of Compliance leading to a proposed decision of the Colorado Division
of Minerals and Geology (Division) in response to a Phase II/III Bond Release Application
(Application) filed by the Enron Coal Company (Greg Lewicki & Associates letter of May 7, 1997,
Re: Final Bond Release at the Meeker Mines C-81-032) for the Meeker Mines (Meeker Area Mines,
Division Permit Number C-81-032). A Phase II bond release applies to areas where vegetation which
supports the approved postmining land use has been established, the vegetation cover meets an
approved standard, and where the level of suspended solids being contributed to streamflow or runoff
outside the permit area are less than or equal to either premining levels or levels on adjacent non-mined
areas. A Phase III bond release applies to any remaining bond amount when the permittee has
successfully completed all surface coal mining reclamation operations in accordance with an approved
reclamation plan, final inspection procedures have been satisfied, and specified periods of time for
revegetation have expired. A Phase III Bond Release terminates jurisdiction of the Division with
regard to oversight of a coal mining activity (the entire Permit area, as well as the reclaimed surface
disturbed areas). This Findings of Compliance document contains four parts: 1) procedures and
summary of the bond release process; 2) criteria and schedule for bond release; 3) observations and
findings of the Division regarding compliance with the bond release requirements of the Colorado
Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act (Act) and regulations (Rules) promulgated thereunder; and 4)
description of the Division's proposed decision on the Application.
The Meeker Area Mines (Northern # 1 and Rienau # 2) are underground mines which were permitted
and operated by the Enron Coal Company (also referred to as the Permittee, Applicant, or Owner).
The mines are located in Rio Blanco County, just south of the summit of Ninemile Gap (United States
Geological Survey 7.5-Minute Topographic Map Quadrangles Ninemile Gap and Rattlesnake Mesa).
The disturbed (reclaimed surface) areas of the mines are located in the SEl/4 NW1/4 Sec 21 T2N
R93W (13.37 acres ), N1/2 NW1/4 Sec 20 T2N R93W (4.08 acres), and the center of Sec 29 T2N
R93W (6.43 acres). The lands for which bond release has been requested are comprised of both private
and federal (managed by the Bureau Of Land Management). The coal which was mined from the areas
was both private and federal.
Enron Coal Company (previously the Northern Coal company) purchased the Rienau # 2 Mine from
another party and began operating it, under the interim permit program, in 1978. Northern opened
the Northern # 1 Mine in 1980. Northern submitted a permit application for both existing mines (and
two new mines in the same area) in 1980. The Division completed their adequacy review of the permit
application on June 14, 1982; however, during mid-1982, market considerations forced temporary
cessation of both mines. Modifications to the permit application were submitted in 1982 to permit
operations only at the Rienau # 2 and Northern # 1 mines, and further modifications submitted in 1983
reduced operations to only the Rienau # 2 Mine (the Northern # 1 Mine had been temporarily sealed).
A revised permit application was submitted in June of 1984, and Permit C-032-81 was issued on
January 4, 1985. In early 1986, plans to fully reclaim both minesites and a refuse area were underway,
and reclamation (backfilling, grading, topsoil replacement, and seeding) was complete by the fall
(October) of 1986 (Document 32).
4 20 January 1998