PERMFILE108469

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 6/2/2006
• Section_Exhibit Name: 2.06 Permits for Special Categories of Mining
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

West Elk Mrrre
2.06.7 Variances for Delay in Contemporaneous Reclamation
Requirements in Combined Surface and Underground
Mining Operations
Because the West Elk Mine is an underground mine, reclamation of surface facilities will not be
completed until mine closure. The Refuse Pile Expansion refuse disposal azea will be
contemporaneously reclaimed as the various phases are completed. The Lower Refuse Pile will be
used as a storage azea until it can be built to the fmal (heaped) configuration and reclaimed. As
such, a waiver or variance for delay in contemporaneous reclamation is required for the Lower
Refuse Pile.
2.06.8 Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Operations on
Areas, or Adjacent to Areas, Including Alluvial Valley
Floors
A reconnaissance investigation for Alluvial Valley Floor (AVF) assessment was performed in
accordance with State and OSM Regulations and following, to the extent possible, OSM Technical
Guidance Paper.
The Division of Minerals and Geology has designated the following three azeas as alluvial valley
floors: 1) North Fork AVF -North Fork of the Gunnison River downstream from Gribble Gulch,
2) Minnesota Creek Main Stem AVF -The alluvial deposits of the main stem of Minnesota
Creek from the north section line of Section 17, T14S, R90W, downstream to the North Fork of the
Gunnison, 3) Minnesota Creek Lower East Fork AVF -The alluvial deposits on the lower East
Fork of Minnesota Creek, extending from the upper limit of mapped alluvial deposits in Section 9,
T14S, R90W to the confluence with the main stem of Minnesota Creek.
According to Title 34, Colorado Revised Statutes 1973, Article 33, Section 34-33-103(2), "Alluvial
Valley Floors" means the unconsolidated stream-laid deposits holding streams where water
availability is sufficient for subimgation or flood irrigation agricultural activities but does not
include upland azeas which aze generally overlain by a thin veneer of colluvial deposits composed
chiefly of debris from sheet erosion, deposits by unconcentrated runoffor slope wash, together with
talus, other mass movement accumulation, and windblown deposits.
Rule 1.04.10 of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board's Regulations for Coal Mining reads,
"Alluvial Valley Floors' means the unconsolidated stream-laid deposits holding streams with water
availability sufficient for subirriga6on or flood imgation agricultural activities but does not include
upland areas which are generally overlain by a thin veneer of colluvial deposits composed chiefly of
debris from sheet erosion, deposits formed by unconcentrated runoff or slope wash, together with
talus, other mass movement accumulations, and windblown deposits.
The same regulations go on to state, at Rule 1.04.147, that "Upland Areas" means, with respect to
Alluvial Valley Floors, those geomorphic features located outside the flood plain and terrace
complex, such as isolated higher terraces, alluvial fans, pediment surfaces, landslide deposits, and
1.062 Revised June 1005 PRIG; Rev. March 2006