2007-11-16_REVISION - C1981041 ‎(6)‎

• Permit No: C1981041
• IBM Index Class Name: REVISION
• Doc Date: 11/16/2007
• Doc Name: Proposed Decision and Findings
• From: DRMS
• To: Snowcap Coal Company
• Type & Sequence: RN5
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Permitting Actions Processed Since August 2005 Mid-term Permit Review
Permit Revisions
PR-3 proposed decision was issued July 30, 2007. The revision allowed for a change in postmining land use
from "Fish and Wildlife Habitat" to "Industrial or Commercial" for portions of the South Portal mine area, and
included a variance from approximate original contour restoration requirements for steep slope mining, to
support the alternative postmining land use in the South Portal area. Significant changes to the reclamation
plan included retention of certain facilities and portions of the mine bench to accommodate the needs of a
commercial agricultural produce operation, including fruit storage and packing, retail sales, parking, equipment
and supply storage, and maintenance facilities. Please refer to the Division's July 30, 2007 Findings of
Compliance document for PR-3, for further details.
PR-4 application was submitted July 6, 2007, and was determined administratively complete on July 16, 2007.
The application proposes a postmining land use change from "Fish and Wildlife Habitat" to "Industrial or
Commercial" for the Unit Train Loadout area. The land use change would allow for long term postmine use of
the loadout area and various associated facilities for rail loading, unloading, and storage of construction
materials. The revision application is still under review as of the date of issuance of the RN-5 proposed
decision.
Technical Revisions
TR-45 proposed approval decision was issued October 11, 2005. The revision allowed for reclamation
schedule extension to allow operator time to finalize a pending property sale, and prepare a postmine land use
change revision application.
TR-46 proposed approval decision was issued December 13, 2005. The revision provided permit updates
requested by the Division based on the mid-term permit review. Changes included revised reclamation
schedule for the unit train loadout, revised species diversity success standard, updated ownership and control
and surface/coal ownership information, and updated Subsidence Surface Structures Map. Based on cost
estimate review performed by the Division during the mid-term review, the reclamation liability increased from
$1,803,487.00 to $2,049,361.00. A bond rider increasing the surety held by the Division to $2,049,361.00 was
submitted in association with TR-46.
TR-47 proposed approval decision was issued November 29, 2005. The revision allowed for modification of
Sediment Pond 1 l (emergency spillway elimination). Note that an earlier version of TR-47 Pond 11 design
modification had been submitted on October 17, 2005, but was retracted by letter dated October 25, 2005.
TR-48 proposed approval decision was issued January 5, 2006. The revision allowed for use of the unit train
loadout by a trucking company to receive freight by rail, and allowed for installation of a new rail switch, and
limited site grading to accommodate the use. Cargo including bulk sand, cement and bentonite would be
offloaded directly from rail cars to trucks. Additional cargo (bagged bentonite and pipe) would be temporarily
stored in designated locations within the sediment controlled area of the loadout.
TR-49 was formally withdrawn by the operator by letter dated February 15, 2006.
Permit Renewal No. 5 5 November 16, 2007