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iii iiiiiiiiniuiii <br />999 <br />1998 ANNUAL RECLAMATION REPORT <br />CYPRUS EMPIRE CORPORATION <br />EAGLE MINES <br />PERMIT NO. C-81-03a <br />1. INTRODUCTION <br />This report addresses the surface disturbance associated with the mining operations of Cyprus Empire <br />Corporation (CEC). CEC is an underground coal operation currently in a state of temporary cessation. <br />Prior to entering into the temporary cessation stams CEC utilized a longwall system in the "E" seam to <br />mine federal, stale and private coal in Moffat County, Colorado. This longwall system was initially <br />installed in 1985 while CEC was in the process of extracting the overlying "F' seam. Historically, <br />underground mining has been conducted near the current operations since the 1930's, primarily along <br />outcrops and in seams above those currently being mined by CEC. Additionally, the adjacent Trapper <br />surface mine has disturbance and reclamation over and adjacent to the CEC mines. One such reclaimed <br />area is the Utah Tract shown on the Map AR-1. This parcel originally consisted of 199 acres but in 1987 <br />a portion of the parcel was transferred back to Trapper and CEC retains reclamation liability on the <br />remaining 158 acres. Bond release sampling Itas been conducted previously on this area and was <br />conducted in 1996. Additional sampling will be required to complete the Phase III bond release process. <br />CEC has responsibility for the Williams Fork Strip Pit. The majority of the pit was reclaimed in 1981, <br />with the remainder reclaimed in 1987. The Number 9 Mine was started in 1976, and produced coal until <br />1981 after which time the mine was sealed due to market and mining conditions. The Number 9 Mine <br />portal area cut is currently utilized as a refuse disposal area in accordance with this permit. <br />Surface facilities and current disturbances associated with the operation include the stockpile facilities, <br />portals, roads, breaker building, offices, conveyance system. warehouse/shop, silo, railroad track, ponds, <br />ditches, wastewater treatment system, refuse disposal areas, and satellite stomge buildings. There are <br />several areas of pre-law mining within the CEC permit boundary for which CEC is not responsible. One <br />oC these areas encompasses the Hart mine fire work which has been and will continue to be conducted by <br />the Division along the outcrop where the coal is smoldering. <br />Given that the current disturbances are limited to those areas necessary for the operation of the mine, CEC <br />does not anticipate an}' large scale reclamation to be undertaken in the near future. The Number 9 Mine <br />refuse area still contains storage volume due to the faM that the operation has been in temporary cessation <br />and no material has been hauled to the area during the present year. At such time as reclamation <br />commences CEC will follow the approved reclamation plan presented in the permit. <br />2. 1998 Reclamation <br />No additional disturbance and no additional reclamation work. The backfilling oC the No. 5 Mine portal is <br />not complete, therefore the reclamation table Iras not been modified to reflect [Iris work. The Amoco <br />Pipeline corridor was seeded in 1996 and CEC will continue to visually monitor the vegetation <br />establishment in this area. Table AR-1 was updated in the 1996 ARR to include dates of seeding for the <br />Williams Fork Strip Pit. Utah Tract and Atnoco Pipeline corridor. Map AR-1, Annual Reclamation Status <br />Map as of 1!1/95, with a revision date of 1/97, in incorporated into this report by reference. Tltis is being <br />done to reflect the fact that no additional reclamation activelies occurred during 1998 which would have to <br />be shoat[ on this map. <br />file: i:\empire~arr\ 1998arr.doc <br /> <br />