Laserfiche WebLink
Mr. Allen Weaver, Mine Engineer -2- March 30, 1994 <br />Energy Fuels Mining Company <br />Backfilling and regrading of all highwalls located east of the prep-plant foundation <br />appeared to have been completed. Included within the backfilling and regrading <br />requirements of Rule 3.03.1(2)(a) is the removal of any mining related structures not <br />approved as permanent structures unless those structures are necessary for drainage <br />control. Mining related structures remaining east of the prep-plant foundation <br />include: <br />a. Shop building -previously approved as a permanent structure; <br />b. A 675-foot-long, 8-foot-diameter culvert -previously approved as a permanent <br />structure; <br />c. Mine access road extending to the shop building -the road has previously been <br />approved as a permanent structure. Culvert C-7 has not been approved as a <br />permanent structure; <br />d. Watershed Diversion Ditches 2, 3, and 4 -will remain for drainage control until <br />Phase II bond release. <br />Watershed Diversions 3 and 4 direct surface runoff from the undisturbed uplands to <br />the inlet and outlet ends of the 675-foot-long culvert. Prior to Phase II bond release, <br />Diversions 3 and 4 will be reclaimed. Removal of Diversions 3 and 4 will allow <br />drainage from several previously diverted natural channels to enter the Starkville <br />Gulch valley bottom within the 675-foot-long area where stream flow is conveyed <br />within the permanent 8-foot-diameter culvert. The current configuration of the <br />permanent culvert will not accept inflow at any location except at the inlet end. <br />Surface water, entering the Starkville Gulch along the 675-foot length of culvert will <br />eventually erode a new channel in the backfilled material overlying the culvert. One <br />suggestion made, during our February 24 meeting, was to install drop inlets to the <br />675-foot-long permanent culvert and regrade to valley floor to direct surface water to <br />the drop inlets. A second suggestion was to remove the 675-foot-long culvert and <br />construct an open channel. <br />2. Phase II bond release requirements specifically dealing with topsoil replacement. <br />Rule 3.03.1(2)(b) states, "Up to eighty-five percent of the applicable bond amount <br />shall be released upon the successful establishment of revegetation in accordance <br />with the approved reclamation plan. Such release shall be based upon the costs of <br />reclamation activities, including but not limited to replacement of topsoil, seeding, <br />irrigating, and fertilizing." <br />Rule 4.06 addressed topsoil requirements. <br />Rule 4.06.2(4)(a) states, "Selected overburden materials may be substituted for, or <br />used as a supplement to topsoil, if the Division determines that the resulting soil <br />medium is equal to or more suitable for sustaining the vegetation than is the available <br />topsoil and the resulting soil medium is the best available in the permit area to <br />support vegetation..." <br />