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West Elk Mine <br />loadout. Subsequently, CDOT approved the siting of the loadout facilities and the CDMG <br />granted the appropriate variance in accordance with Rule 2.07.6(2)(d)(iv). <br />j In 1985, the CDOT relocated State Highway 133 to the south side of the North Fork of the <br />j Gunnison River adjacent to the surface facilities of the West Elk Mine. The mine's surface <br />facilities had been constructed beginning in 1981 and were existing at the time of CDOT's <br />relocation of State Highway 133. With the highway relocation, surface facilities were existing, <br />and CDOT relocated the highway to within 100 feet of the facilities, however, the mine was not <br />required to seek a variance for the facilities which are now within 100 feet of the highway. <br />Portions of the Lower Refuse Pile (LRP) are sited within 100 feet of the relocated State Highway <br />133. MCC applied to the CDOT for approval to conduct operations within 100 feet of State <br />Highway 133. CDOT granted approval for operations within 100 feet of State Highway 133 on <br />April 8, 1986. <br />In 1997, MCC constructed the Refuse Pile Expansion (RPE) area. The RPE and the associated <br />north soil storage area are within 100 feet of the CDOT right -of -way. MCC received an approval <br />letter from CDOT to locate operations within this area that is included in Exhibit 70, Appendix C. <br />Railroads <br />The West Elk Mine area is served by the Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP). A 6,000 -foot <br />long railroad siding and a small auxiliary siding, constructed within the right -of -way of the UP <br />railroad, serves the loadout facility (owned and controlled by UP). <br />Access Control <br />Access to the West Elk Mine is controlled with electronic security gates at the silo pad entrance <br />and the main mine site entrance off State Highway 133. To enter into the mine site, the gates are <br />controlled by an electronic card reader. To exit the mine site, an electronic "exit loop" will <br />activate the gates. A phone was installed at the main mine site gate for visitors. Locked manual <br />gates control other entrances to the disturbed area (i.e. Lone Pine Gulch, the North Soil Storage <br />Area, and the Refuse Pile Expansion). Security monitoring of the mine area occurs as necessary. <br />In addition to fences and security monitoring, signs are used to control access to the permit area <br />and facilities within the area. Signs identifying the mine area are displayed at all points of access <br />from public roads and highways. These signs show the name, business address, and telephone <br />number of the Permittee and identification numbers of current mining and reclamation permits or <br />other authorizations to operate. Permit boundary signs are also present along the entire perimeter <br />of the disturbed mine site. Topsoil stockpiles, subsoil stockpiles, and the refuse area are clearly <br />marked with material identification signs. <br />2.05 -27 Rev. 06105, 01106, 03106, 04106 & 05106- PRIG: 01109- MR350: 04109- 78116: 04109- MR353. 05109- MR354: 08119- TR118. <br />08109- rR119 <br />