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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS <br />r~_. e_~. ,._ . m. _ _. _.w <br />______ ,____...__. .______~_._..___.____.._ ____~_~ ~,,_i, r _~_.._ ~._. <br />4.23 AUGER AND HIGHWALL MINING <br />4.23.1 Scope <br />This Section establishes environmental protection performance standards in addition to those applicable <br />performance standards in Rule 4, to prevent any unnecessary loss of coal reserves and to prevent adverse <br />environmental effects from auger mining incident to surface mining activities. <br />4.23.2 Maximize Recoverability of Mineral Reserves <br />Colowyo has identified areas suitable for highwall mining at South Taylor (Map 23A). Highwall mining <br />should allow for the recovery of additional coal resources beyond the permitted pit final highwalls and <br />end-walls. These coal reserves aze economically recoverable using highwall mining methods. <br />From a strip mining perspective, the South Taylor pit clearly delineates the maximum recoverable coal <br />resources attainable today with modem surface technology and coal market demand and pricing. The <br />proposed highwall mining of the G-seams on the west side of the pit represents recovery of reserves that <br />would not have been recovered by any other means utilizing either surface or underground mining <br />techniques. <br />Section 4.23 of the previously approved permit document contains additional discussion regazding the <br />removal of coal using highwall mining methods. The document includes a summary of the geologic <br />factors that limit removal of the coal using conventional methods, the requirements for leaving <br />undisturbed aeeas of coal in un-mined sections, procedwes for working azound underground mines, <br />surface and groundwater pollution prevention procedures, reduction in fue hazards, backfilling, gading, <br />and PMT requirements. <br />• 4.24 OPERATIONS IN ALLUVIAL VALLEY FLOORS <br />The field investigation described in Section 2.04.7 and 2.06.8 resulted in no identification of alluvial <br />valley floors in the general azea which would be adversely affected by mining operations; therefore, no <br />special performance standazds for operations in the alluvial valley floors are applicable to this mining <br />permit application, and no protection or remedial measures are proposed for compliance to this Section. <br />• <br />South Taylor/Lower Wilson -Rule 4, Page 29 Revision Date: 3/30/07 <br />Revision No.: PR-02 <br />