Laserfiche WebLink
ATTACHMENT 1 <br />• <br />VARIANCES FOR DELAY IN CONTEMPORANEOUS RECLAMATION <br />Empire seeks approval, within the context of this permit, of a variance <br />for a delay in contemporaneous reclamation of the Williams Fork Strip <br />Mine Number 2 under State Mining and Reclamation Permit Number 41 for <br />utilization as an underground mine portal area. This area has been <br />designated portal 9A and will have surface facilities enumerated and <br />positioned as in Section IV or as otherwise discussed. <br />Surface mining has been completed within the context of Permit Number <br />41, such that the area is in a state of reclamation at the present time. <br />Modification of the highwall has been suspended within the provisions of <br />the May 24, 1978 Stipulation with the State of Colorado. The request <br />for the concurrent activities has been approved within the context of <br />the Interim Permit approval from the CMLRD. Subsequently, the variance <br />• requested herein seeks to effect compliance with the rules and <br />regulations of CRS 34-33-101 et. seq. <br />At present, Empire plans to use this highwall area to put in a second <br />set of portals. These are essential for the development of coal <br />resources held in the P Seam which is mined by the Number 9 Mine or as <br />an access to a lower seam. The original three entries will ultimately <br />serve as return air courses to allow for entries from portal 9A to be <br />utilized as intakes and supply entries. <br />The delay in contemporaneous reclamation will not affect or disturb more <br />lands than were historically disturbed during the previous surface <br />mining activities in the area. Sediment control has been established <br />around the entire area, thus no additional disturbance will be required <br />to pass all runoff from the area. If this area were immediately <br />reclaimed, the reclamation would be redisturbed to create the portal <br />area. Topsoil would be lost from excessive handling due to the repeated <br />. removal and redistribution of the material. <br />