2009-02-03_REVISION - C1981041 - Laserfiche WebLink

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been limited to reclamation, maintenance, and monitoring. The only operational activity approved is storage and rail loading and unloading of construction materials at the unit train loadout. At present, mine portals have been sealed and extensive reclamation work has been performed. The approved permit does not include plans to reinitiate mining, and no future disturbance of previously undisturbed areas is proposed. Cameo . Refuse Disposal Area No. 3 (CRDA-3) and ancillary facilities had been proposed prior to mine closure, and were to be constructed in Coal Canyon, west of CRDA-1. Disturbance associated with the facilities did not occur, and the permit has been amended to clarify that the facilities are no longer proposed or approved. Final reclamation is to be completed in all areas by the end of 2009. The reader is referred to the Division's February 10, 2000 Findings of Compliance Document for a discussion of the mining methods employed during active operations. Sediment Control System All surface runoff from disturbed areas is primarily routed through one of eight sediment ponds to prevent additional contributions of sediment to streamflow or runoff outside the permit area due to mining disturbances. Alternative sediment controls are utilized at a number of approved small area exemption sites. Within PR-3, the Division approved a reduction in size of Sedimentation Pond 8 at the South Portals Area, based on the extent of completed reclamation and vegetation establishment on the slopes of the RSRDA waste disposal site. Water Consumption Water usage during operations was from consumption in the mines, in the coal preparation plant, and in the surface facilities. Consumptive use is monitored and results included in the Annual Hydrology Report (AHR). Consumptive use will be minimal in the future because mining and washing of coal has ceased. Water use will be limited to dust control activities during reclamation and for operations at the unit train loadout (if the loadout operation is re-activated). In association with PR-3, based on projected mining related water depletions to the Colorado River, Snowcap Coal Company entered into a Recovery Agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to comply with obligations associated with recovery of the endangered fish species of the Upper Colorado River Basin. Mine Water Discharge A permanent, gravity flow minewater discharge site (Outfall 016) has been established in the vicinity of the reclaimed North Decline facility area. The installation involved angled drilling into the lowest elevation of the South Mine workings. Outfall 002, a siphon type discharge located at the backfilled Northwest Intake Portal adjacent to I-70 has been inactivated. Outfall 002 was previously the primary minewater discharge for the South Mine workings, but in the future will be used only as an emergency back-up to Outfall 016. Outfall 001, a back-up/supplemental discharge via 4" pipe that extends through the concrete seal in the South Mine conveyor portal entry, was used during active operations. The minewater discharge from the South Mine never required treatment to meet CDPS discharge standards, and was discharged directly into the Colorado River. The 001 discharge valve was closed upon activation of Outfall 016. The Outfall 001 pipe was then permanently plugged with pumped concrete in conjunction with the South Portal facilities area reclamation project. The plugged Outfall 001 pipe that extended out of the sealed South Portal began to leak at some point following the sealing of the pipe with 6 cubic yards of grout. SCC submitted Technical Revision No. 56 in March 2008 to provide a plan to completely reseal the pipe. TR-56 was approved by the Division and the pipe has been sealed in accordance with the approved plan. SCC capped off the end of the pipe and encased it in Permit Revision No. 4 10 February 3, 2009