2008-08-13_REVISION - C1981013 ‎(2)‎

• Permit No: C1981013
• IBM Index Class Name: REVISION
• Doc Date: 8/13/2008
• Doc Name: Proposed Decision & Findings of Compliance for SL6
• From: DRMS
• To: New Elk Coal Company
• Type & Sequence: SL6
• Email Name: KAG
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

This document contains the following six parts:
1. Introduction and Proposed Decision
II. Background Information
III. Description of the Bond Release Process
IV. Approval Criteria for Bond Release
V. Observations and Findings
VI. Summary
1. INTRODUCTION AND PROPOSED DECISION
In accordance with Rule 3.03 of the Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land
Reclamation Board for Coal Mining, this document constitutes written notification of the
Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety's (Division) proposed decision to approve a
Phase III bond release (SL-06) at the Golden Eagle Mine (permit #C-81-013) permitted
and operated by New Elk Coal Company, LLC. (NECC). This bond release applies to
four different areas. This is a Phase III bond release for 51.40 previously disturbed and
reclaimed acres located at the former main facility and portal area of the mine. The
second portion of this bond release is a Phase I, II, and III bond release for 5.6 acres
reclaimed at former pond locations (pond 3 and pond 4). The third portion of the
release is a very small section of land, approximately one-tenth (.1) acre of reclaimed
land adjacent to the railroad tracks north of the main facility area. And finally, the
Division is proposing the approval of release of liability for lands over approximately 633
affected acres overlying underground workings north of Highway 12 in Sections 20, 21,
and 28 T33S R67W of the Sixth Principal Meridian and including all remaining areas
overlying underground workings south of Highway 12 not previously bond released in
Surety Release No. 2 (SL-02) in 1998. This bond release approval (SL-06) specifically
excludes 1.2 acres of reclaimed area at the former site of the NW-1 ventilation shaft
and road along with six water monitoring wells SF-2, NM-20, NM,21, NM-22, NM-23,
and LA-218. Under SL-06, the total disturbed area that will be Phase III released is 57.1
acres and the total affected area that will be released over underground workings is
approximately 633 acres.
II. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Golden Eagle Mine is a reclaimed, underground mine that is currently permitted
and operated by New Elk Coal Company LLC. The mine is located in Las Animas
County, approximately 4 miles west of the town of Weston, in portions of sections 15-22
and sections 27-34, T33S R67W. The mine ceased coal production on December 31,
1995. Structure demolition and site reclamation were conducted during 1996 and early
1997. Approximately 66 acres were disturbed and reclaimed at this site.
The main facility area consists of one larger contiguous area of approximately 37.7
acres depicted on Figure 2 of the application as parcels B-I, and the remaining 19.4
acres defined by isolated parcels A and J-R on Figure 2. Lands comprising the 633
affected acres over underground workings are located in Sections 19, 20, 21, 28, and
29 north of Highway 12, as well as the affected lands directly beneath the 65 disturbed