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Midterm Review <br />Roadside North and South Portals Mine <br />(C -1981 -041) <br />This document presents the results of the Division's Midterm Review for the Roadside Portals <br />Mine. This Midterm Review was conducted to fulfill the requirements of Rules 2.08.3, <br />2.06.2(10), 2.06.3(4), 2.06.5(2), 2.06.7(5) and 3.02(4). <br />Rule 2.08.3 requires that the Division conduct a review of each permit issued, prior to its <br />midterm. Based on this review, for good cause shown, the Division may require reasonable <br />revisions or modifications of the permit provisions to ensure compliance with the Act and <br />Regulation. <br />Rules 2.06.2, 2.06.3, 2.06.5 and 2.06.7 require that experimental practices, mountaintop removal <br />variances, variances from approximate original contour (AOC) and variances from <br />contemporaneous reclamation, respectively, be reviewed by the Division where applicable <br />during the Midterm Review. <br />Rule 3.02.2(4) requires that the Division review the amount of the bond and the terms of <br />acceptance of the bond every 2 %Z years. <br />This Midterm Review consists of a review of the Roadside Portals Mine permit application and <br />the Division's Findings Document for the 2007 permit renewal. The Division also reviewed all <br />subsequent revisions and stipulation responses to ensure that all permit commitments and <br />conditions were being followed. Problems and observations from past inspection reports were <br />also considered during this review. <br />SECTION I -- HISTORY <br />The Roadside North and South Portal Mines (formerly known as the Roadside and Cameo <br />Mines) is an underground coal mining operation located in Mesa County, approximately three <br />miles northeast of Palisade, Colorado, adjacent to Interstate 70 and the Colorado River, at the <br />Cameo exit in DeBeque Canyon. Underground mining operations began in 1974. On February <br />17, 1981 GEX Colorado, Inc. submitted the original application for a permit under the Colorado <br />permanent program. On December 31, 1981, the Roadside and Cameo Mines were purchased by <br />Powderhorn Coal Company. Following the review process for the initial permanent program <br />permit application, a Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance for permit approval was <br />written on November 4, 1982. The Division issued a five -year -term permit with stipulations on <br />January 3, 1983 and designated Permit Number C- 1981 -041 for the Roadside Portals Mine. <br />Snowcap Coal Company acquired the mine from Powderhorn Coal Company in 2002. The <br />Transfer of Permit/Succession of Operator (SO -02) became final on April 14, 2002. Although <br />the official status of the operation is "Active", there has been no coal extraction at the mine since <br />December 1999. Extensive reclamation work has been conducted at the mine since coal <br />Roadside Portals Mine -2- July 15, 2010 <br />