Laserfiche WebLink
<br />VIII. Coal Mine: Waste Banks <br />A. Minimal coal mine waste was produced by the Blue Ribbon Mine; therefore, a refuse disposal <br />site vas not constructed. The waste that was produced, was trucked to the Red Canyon Mine in <br />Ceda~redge, to be placed on their refuse disposal area. Details of Red Canyon's approved refuse <br />pile c:an be located in the Division's File No. C-81-034. <br />B. In 1985, the operator submitted a technical revision request to stabilize the mine bench and the <br />slope: below the mine bench. The Division approved the use of underground development waste <br />from the West Elk Mine as a source of fill to stabilize the slope. Drains were installed under the <br />mine bench which tie into the existing upper bench drains. These are known as the North, <br />Middle, and South Drains. The outslope of the bench was covered with overburden and available <br />topsoil to a depth of four feet. <br />IX. Coal Mine Waste <br />A. No c~~al mine waste from the Blue Ribbon mine was returned to underground workings (4.11.3). <br />B. Disposal of non-coal waste was handled as required (4.11.4). <br />C. No dlams or embankments constructed of coal mine waste have been or proposed to be <br />constructed (4.11.5). <br />X. Backfillins~ and Grading <br />The backfilling and grading plan for the Blue Ribbon Mine can be located in the Reclamation <br />Plan which begins on page 108 of the permit application. A plan view of the post-mining <br />topography and correlated cross-sections are presented in Exhibits F and B, respectively. <br />The majority of backfilling and grading operations has taken place in the mine bench and the <br />haul road areas. The Blue Ribbon Mine has received a Phase I bond release for backfilling and <br />grading activities. The mine, however, had a shortage of material that was required to complete <br />the task. The operator had to subsequently import material from different places in order to <br />provide sufficient quantities of backfill material. The Division has granted a variance of <br />approximate original contour at the Blue Ribbon Mine. See Section XX, Operations on Steep <br />Slopes, in this document for specific findings regarding this application. <br />The haul road to the mine bench was reclaimed using material cast over the side during its <br />const~~uction. <br />In order to guarantee long term stability ofthe mine bench, the approved reclamation plan was to <br />partially backfill the bench and regrade the portal bench fill in order to reduce the outslope <br />gradie:nt. Therefore, material from other sources had to be used for backfill. Coal waste from the <br />lower stockpile area was hauled to the mine bench, as well as coal waste from the West Elk <br />Mine. The operator also received approval, through the technical revision process, to borrow <br />colluvial material from an area immediately south of the portal bench. <br />27 <br />