1987-12-01_PERMIT FILE - C1981017 ‎(289)‎

• Permit No: C1981017
• IBM Index Class Name: PERMIT FILE
• Doc Date: 12/1/1987
• Doc Name: Geotechnical Investigations Mine Portal Benches and Haul Roads
• Section_Exhibit Name: Chapter V Appendix V-E-II
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

RECLAMATION OF HAUL ROADS AND MINE BENCHES
COAL BASIN MINES, REDSTONE, COLORADO
PHASE 1 : DOCUMENTATION OF ROADS AND BENCHES
FOR MID-CONTINENT RESOURCES, INC.
1. 0 INTRODUCTION
1. 1 GENERAL
Mid-Continent Resources has engaged in underground mining
operations in the Coal Basin since 1956. A total of five mine
portals and nearly 15 miles of haul roads connecting the
portals with the coal preparation plant facilities have been
constructed. Mine portals have been built directly at the coal
seam outcrop; typically, a cut has been excavated above the
coal seam, and the material obtained from this excavation was
deposited in a fill. This is a common mine entry arrangement in
coal mines of the western U.S. A mine bench is created and used
for surface mine facilities.
A system of haul roads 50 to 60 feet wide was developed in
the rugged topography of the basin. The roads were built using
mostly the sidecast construction method where the material
obtained from the cut excavation is dumped on the other side of
the road. Roads are characterized by long cuts of a
considerable height and corresponding fills. The grade of the
roads is steep, mostly on the order of 8 to 9 percent.
The location of individual mine benches and the system of
haul roads ' identification is shown on Plate 1, Location Map,
Haul Roads and Mine Benches. Basic parameters (the length ,
average grade) of individual roads are presented in Table 1.
Mine benches and haul roads will be reclaimed after the
abandonment of coal operations. Because of the rugged
mountainous topography, high altitude and a considerable amount
of earthmoving performed during the construction, reclamation
will be difficult. By Stipulations Nos. 22 and 26, the Mined
Land Reclamation Division directed Mid-Continent Resources to
perform certain geotechnical and reclamation studies that would
enable more specific evaluation of reclamation procedures for
both mine benches and haul roads. . These studies will be
performed in several phases over a period of several years.
Phase 1 should include mapping of the benches and roads ;
during Phase 2, reclamation backfilling and grading design will
be developed for potential problem areas identified during
. Phase 1. During Phase 2, test sections will be constructed at
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GEO-HYDRO CONSULTING,INC.
1