2007-11-16_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981041

• Permit No: C1981041
• IBM Index Class Name: GENERAL DOCUMENTS
• Doc Date: 11/16/2007
• Doc Name: Proposed Decision & Findings of Compliance for RN5
• Permit Index Doc Type: Findings
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

amended. Further refinements of the final reclamation plan for the South Portals and RSRDA,
including amended permanent drainage plans, were approved via technical revisions prior to initiation
of final reclamation in 2002. RSRDA slopes and terrace drains were reclaimed in 2002, and a new
upper diversion beginning just above the portal highwall and extending to the south around the
RSRDA was constructed. The wash plant and associated facilities were removed, however various
additional facilities remained on the lower and upper benches. Concrete seals were installed in the
South Portals during 2000, and the portals out-by the seals were backfilled in the fall of 2007.
The South Portal Area reclamation plan was again modified by approval of PR-3, in July 2007;
remaining reclamation was initiated in September 2007 and is to be completed in 2008. In PR-3,
SCC requested a steep slope variance from approximate original contour (AOC) for the mine bench
and adjacent areas, including the steep rock cut slopes created during bench construction, and
proposed Access Road lA, which will be constructed to provide access to the bench area following
reclamation. The purpose of the AOC variance is to accommodate an alternative "Industrial or
Commercial" land use. A local agricultural business, Providence Place, Inc. (PPI), has contracted to
purchase the Roadside South Portals Area upon approval of PR-3. The alternative land use plan will
allow for retention ofthe shop, warehouse and parking areas on the upper bench. These facilities will
be used by PPI for equipment and supply storage and maintenance. The cafeteria, lab, septic tank
system, and associated parking and travel areas on the lower level will also be retained for future use.
The buildings will be used as a seasonal fruit stand and apacking/cooling shed. The property has
been leased by PPI since 2005, and use of the buildings as described has been on-going since that
time. The fruit stand has been operated under the name "Kokopelli Produce". The top ofthe RSRDA
will be used as an equipment and material storage area in the future.
In order to accommodate the alternative postmining land use and allow for retention of buildings,
roads, parking, and storage areas needed for the alternative use, the backfilling and grading plan was
altered by approval of PR-3. The revised postmining topography for the South Portals Area is
depicted on Exhibit 6C, and amended cross sections on Exhibit 26. The specific area to which the
AOC variance will apply, and the larger area to be used for the alternative "Industrial or Commercial"
postmining land use, are delineated on Exhibit 6C. Please see Section B.VIII of this document for
specific findings applicable to the Steep Slope AOC Variance; see Section B.X of this document for
specific findings applicable to approval of the alternative postmining land use.
A portion ofthe South Portal that is considered "Active Use" area is delineated on Exhibit 6C-A. The
"Active Use" areas will not be revegetated; non-active use portions of the alternative land use area
(such as Access Road 1 backfill slopes, Access Road 1 A fill slopes, and highwall backfill areas) will
be revegetated to provide a stabilizing vegetative cover, but the alternative land use vegetated areas
will not be required to meet the specific success criteria applicable to reclaimed Wildlife Habitat
postmining land use areas.
Within PR-3, SCC identified a material deficit for construction of Access Road 1-A and elimination of
the highwall at the South Portal area. Material to compensate for the projected deficit would be
obtained from a low hill located within the Unit Train Loadout (UTL) disturbed area. Borrow of the
material from the UTL site would remove the crown ofthe hill, lowering the hill by approximately 10
feet. This proposed minor reduction in the elevation of the hill is depicted on revised Exhibit 11 C
(Unit Train Loadout Facility Post Mining Topography). The modification does not significantly
change the nature ofthe postmining landscape, and the amended topography will achieve approximate
original contour in the UTL area.
Permit Renewal No. 5 40 November 16, 2007