Laserfiche WebLink
STATE oF coLoRAnn <br />DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone: (303) 866-3567 <br />FAX: (303) 832-8106 <br />COLORADO <br />D I V I S 10 N O F <br />RECLAMATION <br />MINING <br />SAFETY <br /> Bill Ritter, Jr. <br />May 22, 2009 Governor <br /> Harris D. Sherman <br /> Executive Director <br />Mr. Donald MacDonald <br /> Ronald W. Cattany <br />Coors Energy Company Division Director <br />P.O. Box 467 Natural Resource Trustee <br />Golden, CO 80402 <br />Re: Coors Energy Company, Keenesburg Mine, C 1981-028, TR40 Adequacy Review <br />Dear Mr. MacDonald: <br />Coors Energy Company (CEC) has applied for a revision, TR40, to the Keenesburg permit, C 1981-028, for <br />an adjustment to the final post-mining contours in the Long Term Spoil Area (LTSA). CEC considers this <br />revision to be necessary in order to meet the approved post-mining contours over the reclaimed Pit B. Pit B <br />is used for flyash disposal and requires 8 feet of cover (6 feet of spoil, plus 2 feet of topsand) over the ash. <br />GEC's calculation of remaining spoil available resulted in determination that CEC needs to lower the final <br />contours of the LTSA by 0.88 feet (10.56 inches) below the currently approved post-mining contours. CEC <br />provided revised Appendix Q-1 showing the proposed contours. These proposed contours remain consistent <br />with the overall shape of the landscape, blend with the surrounding approved post-mining contours, maintain <br />the approved hydrologic drainages and flow designs, and are comparable to the approximate original <br />contours (AOC). <br />Although the Division has no concerns with the proposed post-mining contours shown on appendix Q-1, we <br />want to clarify the spoil volumes described in the letter from American Environmental Consulting, LLC <br />(AEC), dated April 7, 2009, included in the TR40 application package. <br />AEC indicates that CEC currently (2008 ARR) has 265,372 bcy (bank cubic yards) spoil material remaining <br />in the LTSA for reclamation of Pit B. AEC also states that Pit B reclamation is projected to require 323,470 <br />bcy spoil to complete the approved reclamation. The difference between these values equals 58,098 bcy. <br />AEC recommends lowering of the final contours of the LTSA by 0.88 feet (10.56 inches) to make up the <br />shortage of spoil needed for Pit B reclamation. AEC calculates that this additional spoil will provide CEC a <br />total of 367,400 bcy for reclaiming Pit B. <br />The Division's calculations for spoil material differed from AEC's. Although these volumes are not <br />changing any of the permit pages, the Division wants to be assured that the CEC's mass balance adequately <br />reflects the volume needed to complete Pit B reclamation. <br />Office of <br />Mined Land Reclamation Office of <br />Denver Grand )unction Durango Active and Inactive Mines