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USGS Quadrangle maps of Milner and Rattlesnake Butte cover the majority of the permit area.
<br />Disturbed areas of the mine include the main surface facilities area along Foidel Creek and
<br />numerous smaller outlying facilities. These mine-related facilities result in 676.90 total disturbed
<br />acres. The main mine facilities lie in Sections 29, 31, 32, TSN, R86W of the 6th Principal
<br />Meridian and are located in, and adjacent to, a strip pit excavated originally by Colorado Yampa
<br />Coal Company's (CYCC) surface mining operation (No. C1981-071). Other facilities currently
<br />within the permit area, but separate from the main portal facility area, include the Fish Creek
<br />Borehole (FCB) facility, the Southwest ventilation facility (SW vent), the Eastern Mining
<br />District ventilation facility (EMD vent), the Eastern Mining District dewatering facility (IORT
<br />borehole), the 18-Right Escape Shaft and MAC borehole, the 18-Left Ventilation boreholes and
<br />MAC borehole, the 6-Main North Ventilation Shaft, the 6-Main North escape shaft and supply
<br />boreholes, the 6-Main North reservoir, the Sandstones substation and Barricade chamber, the
<br />Fish Creek Tipple (FCT) facility, the Eastern Mining District grout hole pad, and various roads
<br />and waterlines throughout the permit area.
<br />The Fish Creek Borehole (FCB) is located on Fish Creek approximately two miles northwest of
<br />the main facility area in Section 25, TSN, R87W. The FCB facility consists of two dewatering
<br />boreholes, an inactive ventilation shaft that has been reconfigured to a mine water borehole, three
<br />treatment ponds, associated roads, a substation, a utility building, and water treatment
<br />equipment. The SW vent was reclaimed in 1996 and is located in Section 36, TSN, R87W. The
<br />EMD vent facility is located in Section 14, TSN, R86W and consists of two ventilation shafts
<br />(intake air and return air), intake air heating unit, associated buildings, powerlines, and fuel tank.
<br />The 10 Right boreholes (formerly referred to as the EMD borehole) disturbed area is located in
<br />Section 21, TSN, R86W and consists of two boreholes, a pump building, several buried water
<br />lines, topsoil stockpiles, and a graveled pad. The Sandstones substation in Section 20, TSN,
<br />R86W no longer serves as a power drop to the mine. The nearby Barricade chamber (formerly
<br />referred to as the North Escape Shaft) has no facilities but exists as a completed three-foot
<br />diameter shaft that has been capped with a temporary steel cap. The shaft at the Barricade
<br />chamber is used to direct water back into the mine as a part of the mine water system.
<br />The Fish Creek Tipple (FCT) facility is located approximately five miles northeast of the main
<br />portal area in Section 2, TSN, R86W, about seven miles downstream on Fish Creek from the
<br />FCB facility. It was originally permitted separately under permit No. C1981-036 but since has
<br />been incorporated into the Foidel Creek permit No. C-1982-056. It consists of a rail load out,
<br />crushing and screening equipment, conveyors, stockpile areas, and a sediment control system of
<br />ditches and one pond. The FCT facility has been idle since Energy Mine No. 3 (No. C1984-062)
<br />completed mining in 1986, and is currently inactive as of the writing of this document in October
<br />2009.
<br />The 6-Main North (6MN) facilities were constructed in 2007-2009 and are located in Section 17,
<br />TSN, R86W. The 6MN facilities consist of an escape shaft with a man hoist for emergency
<br />evacuation, cuttings pit, topsoil stockpiles, transformer, two rock dust tanks and associated
<br />boreholes, Mine Atmosphere Control (MAC) borehole, and materials boreholes, compressor
<br />building, 6MN million gallon water tank, 6MN sediment pond, 6MN reservoir, ventilation fan,
<br />fan heaters (4), and propane tank. The 6MN facilities provide support to underground workings
<br />in the Northern Mining District.
<br />Foidel Creek Mine 7 June 4, 2010
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