2007-11-16_REVISION - C1981041 (6)

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August 27, 2007-The Division sent a Preliminary Adequacy Review Letter to SCC. The letter included eight (8) comments addressing apparent deficiencies that had been identified during the preliminary adequacy review. The SEO, SHPO, and BOR comment letters were included as enclosures. September 17, 2007-The Division forwarded a copy of the RN-5 reclamation cost estimate to SCC. The estimated liability amount was $2,233,045.00, which was an increase of $183,684.00 over the prior liability amount and surety amount then held by the Division. September 28,2007-The Division received SCC's RN-5 preliminary adequacy review responses, in the form of a technical revision application (TR-54). The revision incorporated requested updates to various sections of permit text, tables, maps and appendices, to reflect the current status of operations and to provide clarification regarding various aspects of the reclamation plan. TR-54 proposed approval decision was issued on November 8, 2007, following several exchanges of adequacy comments and submittals. November 5, 2007-SCC submitted a surety bond rider from Liberty Mutual Insurance Company to Bond No. 014-018-026, increasing the bond to the required amount of $2,233,045.00. Description of the Environment Geographic Setting The Roadside North and South Portals Mine complex lies in the alluvial valley of the Colorado River along Interstate 70 (I-70) just east of the town of Palisade. The river and interstate trend northeast to southwest through the mine area, with the North Portal facilities and mine workings located to the west and north, and the South Portal facilities and mine workings to the east and south. Located 12 miles from Grand Junction, the mines are situated in DeBeque Canyon in the Bookcliffs, a ridge comprised of vari-colored shales and sandstones trending northwest-southeast. The Bookcliffs border the Grand Valley to the east where the Colorado River exits the highlands of the cliffs and enters the valley. Mount Garfield, a prominent peak in the Bookcliffs, lies southwest of the mine site and serves as the southwestern corner of the Piceance basin to the north. The mines can be located on the USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle maps labeled "Cameo" and "Palisade." The Bookcliffs coal field is characterized by a monoclinal structure with the strata dipping gently to the northeast. Exhibits 13 and 14 of the permit application illustrate the surface geology and geologic structure of the permit area. The mine's surface facilities are located on and adjacent to the alluvial valley floor of the Colorado River. The river alluvium ranges from a clayey to silty sand and contains scattered gravel and cobble-sized fragments. The depth of the alluvium ranges from nine to sixty feet beneath the surface disturbed areas. Historically, the valley has been mined for coal since the late 1800's, so the alluvial valley floor has been altered and affected by these operations. The Cameo power plant, which was a customer for coal that was mined at Roadside, lies just west of the mine site along Interstate 70. Geology Nearly the entire surface of the permit area consists of the Mesaverde Formation, a sequence of interbedded shales, siltstones and sandstones, indicative of a marine/alluvial depositional environment. Further to the south, the Wasatch and Ohio Creek Formations outcrop on the surface. Permit Renewal No. 5 8 November 16, 2007