2010-04-05_REPORT - M1977424 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Logan Wash Mine Annual Report Permit No.: M-1977-424 reports have shown since at least 1985 that Area 23, Evaporation Pond and Pipeline, was initially a 14.87-acre disturbance. The 1985 annual report shows that 5.07 acres of this acreage was reclaimed prior to the report's published date in spring 1986. Table 1.0 shows the Evaporation Pond and Pipeline acreage as Area 23. Table 1.0 shows that the estimated remaining acreage not reclaimed is 18.1 acres for the reporting period. The reclamation status of previously disturbed areas is discussed below. 2.1 Mine Areas Other than roads, the Lower Bench is the only remaining mine area (Area 1) that is not reclaimed. This area consists of 2.1 acres. This area has not yet been reclaimed as it is currently being used as mine access to monitor hydrological stations and general revegetation progress at other parts of the mine property. In the past, OXY-USA (OOGC) has also shown interest in using the Lower Bench as a possible site for the construction of a natural gas well. 2.2 Roads Table 2 refers to reclamation status of "Miscellaneous Access Roads" as described in the original permit. The acreage figures in the table are based on what acreage remains to be reclaimed as estimated in the field. Field measurements for the "Mine Bench and Portal" roads indicate that 6.2 acres remain to be reclaimed at the end of the reporting period. The 6.2 acres of unreclaimed roads consists of 0.9 acres of the Lower Bench Road, and 5.3 acres of the Upper Access Road from the intersection of Logan Wash Road to the intersection of the Upper and Lower Bench Roads (at the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and OOSI property boundary), 4,050 linear ft of which includes a 50-ft width due to outslope material that will need to be pulled back during reclamation. The Upper Bench Road has been reclaimed. As discussed in Section 6.0, the Upper Access Road (the only main access open to vehicular traffic to the mine) acreage may be removed from the permit if a separate BLM right-of-way is acquired by OOGC to construct a gas well on the Lower Bench. In addition, this road will remain in use until monitoring of hydrological stations and general revegetation progress at other parts of the mine property is no longer necessary. There is the potential for future alternative retort water treatment or management methods at the mine which may require that this road remain in place for an indefinite period of time. Disturbed acreage associated with the Logan Wash Road or the "tramroad" was originally shown in the mine permit to be 53.43 acres. This road extends from its intersection with Road 45 up Logan Wash to the mine property. BLM records indicate that the original Logan Wash Road right-of-way (COC-223027) was 58.6 acres and includes all of the Upper Access Road up to the BLM-OOSI property boundary near the intersection of the Upper and Lower Bench Roads; the actual disturbance acreage has not been determined. The acreage amounts for roads (Area 13) in the original permit appear to include the acreage associated with the Upper Access Road. The main Logan Wash Road, up to the intersection with the Upper Access Road (to the mine), comprises of the bulk of this acreage and will not be reclaimed as it has historically and currently serves as access for the public and oil and gas development in the area. 2.3 Structures 2.3.1 Vaults, Pipelines, and Evaporation Pond Structures that remain at the mine site include two vault structures, one on the Lower Bench and one on the Research Mine Bench and a capped and vented ventilation shaft. In addition, the retort Western Water & Land, Inc. 2