Laserfiche WebLink
Midterm Review <br />New Horizon Mine <br />(Permit No. C -1981 -008) <br />This document presents the results of the Division's Midterm Review for Western Fuels — <br />Colorado, LLC's New Horizon Mine permit. This Midterm Review was conducted to fulfill the <br />requirements of Rules 2.08.3, 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 1 /z years. <br />This Midterm Review consists of a review of the New Horizon Mine permit application and <br />Findings Document to identify items that may have been overlooked during the initial review. <br />The Division also reviewed all subsequent revisions and stipulation responses to ensure that all <br />permit commitments and conditions were being followed. Problems and observations from past <br />inspection reports were also considered. <br />SECTION I — HISTORY <br />The New Horizon Mine is a surface coal mine located in western Montrose County, northwest of <br />the town of Nucla, Colorado. Mining operations at the currently active New Horizon Mine 2 <br />permit area were begun in 1993 by Western Fuels — Colorado, LLC. Peabody Coal Company <br />mined coal from the New Horizon Mine 1 between 1983 and 1992. The permit was transferred <br />from Peabody to WFC on May 15, 1992. <br />The original application for Permit No. C -1981 -008 for the Nucla Mine (now known as the New <br />Horizon Mine 1) was submitted by Peabody Coal Company on January 9, 1981 and was <br />approved by the Division on April 14, 1983. The Nucla Mine covered 393 acres. The permit <br />was subsequently renewed (RN -01) for a second five -year term by the Division in May of 1988. <br />On April 29, 1988, Peabody submitted an application for Permit Revision No. 2 (PR -2) to add <br />approximately 220 acres to the permit, creating the Nucla East Mine immediately west of the <br />Town of Nucla (now known as New Horizon Mine 2). This revision was approved on February <br />28, 1989. <br />New Horizon Mine -2- December 8, 2010 <br />