2010-12-09_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1982057

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Within the original permit area, Mine Pits A, B, C, and D were oriented perpendicular to the cropline and the coal in the mine pit area dipped approximately 18 to 25%. A single dragline operated alternately within the north and south areas. The Wadge coal seam was mined in all four pits from the cropline to approximately 100 feet in depth. Auger mining was conducted within certain final Wadge pit locations in the original permit area. Mining in the south extension area was approved in PR-2 and subsequently initiated. Development of this area proceeded directly from the final cut in the A pit. Wadge Coal pit extraction and progressive development was parallel to the cropline. Mining was constrained by the rapid increase in overburden depth as mining progressed away from the cropline. The operation plan is addressed in detail in Volume 7, Tab 12. The most recent 5 year permit term for the Seneca II-W permit was effective December 31, 2005, and allowed for mining operations to be conducted for recovery of the Wadge, Sage Creek and Wolf Creek seams in the NWl/a Section 35 and the E1hNW1/a Section 26, TSN, R88W.The Sage Creek/Wolf Creek pit progressive development was for the most part perpendicular to strike, and proceeded pit by pit from south to north within the South Extension Area. Dragline operations within the South Extension Area alternated between the Wadge and Wolf Creek/Sage Creek pit areas. Highwall miner operations were proposed within PR-4, for final Wadge Pit highwall locations, and various Wolf Creek/Sage Creek pit locations of the South Extension Area, but the plans were not implemented and were withdrawn by PR-5. The permit application provides detailed information on mining and reclamation operations, transportation routes, and hydrologic controls for the mine. Coal mined was owned by private interest and the Federal government, under lease to Seneca Coal Company. Surface ownership includes federal lands managed by the BLM, a variety of private leases, subleases and easements. The tie-across haul road which connects Routt County Road 53 with the Hayden Power Plant, also includes some lands owned by the State of Colorado. The total permitted area, including the tie-across haul road, is approximately 4,093 acres. The maximum proposed disturbed area is 1534.5 acres, including both the mine area (1334.5 acres) and Tie Across Haul Road Area (200 acres). The disturbed area includes the mine pit area, surface support facilities, haul roads and drainage control facilities. In addition to the primary disturbance areas described, various exhibits and text refer to a number of "minimal disturbance" areas, totaling approximately 56 acres. These areas are primarily located along ephemeral drainages between primary disturbance areas and sedimentation ponds, and could potentially be impacted by sediment deposition or erosion, and associated maintenance activity. Coal extraction operations began at Seneca II-W in 1990, and continued until January 2006, when coal production at Seneca H-W ceased. Over the life of the mine, total coal production was 12,069,059 tons. Annual production ranged from a low of 376,700 tons to a maximum 990,300 tons. Seneca II-W Findings Document 13 C1982057 Permit Renewal No. 5 December 9, 2010