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rapid increase in overburden depth as mining progresses away from the cropline. The operation <br />plan is addressed in detail in Volume 7, Tab 12. <br />The 5 year permit term for the Seneca II-W permit is effective December 31, 2000, and allows <br />for mining operations to be conducted for recovery of the Wadge seam in the SE'/a Section 10, <br />SW'/a Section 14, E'/z Section 15, N'/z Section 22, Section 23, W th Section 26, W'h Section 35 <br />and N'h Section 34, TSN, R88W. <br />PR-3 approval allowed for minor expansion of Wadge Coal recovery and associated disturbance <br />areas within the South Extension Area, as well as recovery of Sage Creek and Wolf Creek Coals <br />within the South Extension Area. The Sage Creek/Wolf Creek pit progressive development is for <br />the most part perpendicular to strike, and proceeds pit by pit from south to north within the <br />South Extension Area. The Sage Creek seam is present in only the extreme northern and <br />extreme southern portions of the South Extension Area. Dragline operations within the <br />South Extension Area will alternate between the Wadge and Wolf Creek/Sage Creek pit <br />areas. Highwall miner operations are proposed within PR-4, for final Wadge Pit hghwall <br />locations, and various Wolf Creek/Sage Creek pit locations of the South Extension Area. <br />The mine operations plan as amended by PR-4 is depicted on Exhibits 12-3 (Combined <br />Mine Plan), 12-3A (Wadge Seam &Highwall Miner), and 12-3B (Sage Creek/Wolf Creek <br />& Highwall Miner). <br />Previous Auger and proposed Highwall Mining operations are specifically addressed in <br />Attachments 12-2 and 12-4 of the permit application, respectively. Due to the similarity <br />of operations and potential impacts, the Division reviewed the proposed hghwall miner <br />operations under the auger mining provisions of Rule 2.06.9 and performance standards of <br />4.23. Specific findings relevant to the proposed hghwall miner operations are included in <br />Subsection XIV, of Findings Section B, of this document. <br />The permit application provides detailed information on mining and reclamation operations, <br />transportation routes, and hydrologic controls for the mine. <br />Coal to be mined is owned by private interest, the State of Colorado and the Federal <br />government, and is under lease to Seneca Coal Company. Surface ownership includes federal <br />lands managed by the BLM, a variety of private leases, subleases and easements. The tie-across <br />haul road which commects Routt County Road 53 with the Hayden Power Plant, also includes <br />some lands owned by the State of Colorado. <br />The total permitted area, including the tie-across haul road, is approximately 4,093 acres. The <br />maximum proposed disturbed area is 1,818.6 acres, including proposed disturbed area <br />expansion of 17.5 acres associated with PR-4. The disturbed area includes the mine pit area, <br />surface support facilities, haul roads and drainage control facilities. The current life of mine <br />projection is that operations will continue in the southern extension area until completion of all <br />mining and reclamation, projected to be in 2010. Over the life of the mine, total production of <br />Seneca II-W Findings Document 13 November 17, 2004 <br />Permit Revision No. 4 <br />