2008-04-22_PERMIT FILE - C1981017 ‎(11)‎

• Permit No: C1981017
• IBM Index Class Name: PERMIT FILE
• Doc Date: 4/22/2008
• Section_Exhibit Name: Introductory Items
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

~IID-CO\TI:~E\T RESOtiRCES. INC.
' E Q Boa 1334
818 Colorado Ave.
Glem~•ood Springs. Colorado 81601
(303) 94~-~9~6
August 3, 1981
Mr. Jim Herron
Reclamation Specialist
Mined Land Reclamation Division
Department of Natural Resources
423 Centennial Building
1313 Sherman Street
Denver, CO 80203
Dear Jim:
As suggested in your preliminary adequacy review comments on
' our Coal Basin Mine Permit Application, we are hereby
~` requesting a variance from Approximate Original Contour
(AOC) restoration requirements for steep sl-ope mining in
accordance with paragraph 2.06.5 of your rules and regula-
tions on coal mining.
The majority of the haul and light use roads, as well as the
mine escapeways and portals in the Coal Basin mine permit
area have been constructed on slopes that exceed 20 degrees.
In this unusally rough and steep terrain with a paucity of
topsoil, the construction of the roads and portals has
resulted in extensive highwalls and almost vertical road
cuts mostly in rock and shale formations that would be
extremely difficult, if not impossible to backfill to AOC.
Most of the surface disturbance in the basin predates the
passage of the 1977 Colorado Coal Mininq Reclamation Act
when there was no requirement to stockpile what little
topsoil was present. Consequently, the only soil available
for backfill of highwalls and steep cuts. along the steep
slopes of Coal Basin is in the downslopes where it would be
unusally difficult to retrieve.
A variance from the requirements to reclaim the disturbed
areas in Coal Basin to AOC will make the lands suitable for
public use following cessation of mining. As outlined in
Chapter VI, Postmining Land Use, of this permit application
C the planned postmining land uses of Coal. Basin are recreation,
wildlife habitat and livestock grazing. In support of these
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