2011-01-13_PERMIT FILE - C1981038A (6)

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• 2.05.3 (A) Not applicable. (B) Not applicable. (C) Not applicable. (c) Transportation facilities The mine transportation facilities are used for mine access and coal movement . A prior operator built a Haul Road (used for coal transport) connecting Steven's Gulch Road, a National Forest Access Road, with the East Mine facilities. The road is on a BLM right-of--way. This section of road has been asphalt paved. Gradients and cross-sections are found on Maps 8-l, 8A-9A through C, and Figure 2.05-3 in the Mine Facilities Appendix, Volume 8A. It has followed Colorado State Highway specifications and conforms with 4.03.1 (See appropriate Section). The road is the sole means of access for mine personnel and coal hauling trucks transporting coal from crushing and screening operations to the storage and load-out facilities. In general, the existing Haul Road has been designed and constructed to minimize erosion, downstream sedimentation and Flooding. The gradient for the road is approximately 7 percent. The road is constructed considering local topography and anticipated volume of traffic. Road • cuts were constructed to minimize visual intpacfs and affected area. The Haul Road drainage utilizes ditches and culverts spaced approximately every 500 feet. Culvert capacity has been designed to pass the runoff from a 10-year, 24-hour precipitation event. See calculation in Surface Drainage Appendix in Volume 8. Sediment control measures are sedimentation ponds, vegetative buffers, or straw dikes. Part of the road drainage is routed through the series of sedimentation ponds described in Section 2.05.3(3)(b) -Existing Structures. The remainder of the drainage is routed through vegetative buffers or straw dikes before discharge into any existing watershed. The applicant repairs the road as is necessary to assure vehicle usage. Road cut and fill slopes have been vegetated in accordance with Section 2.05.4- Reclamation Plan: General Requirements. Tlte.road, after cessation of mining operations will be left in place to be used as access to grazing areas as stated in Section 2.05.5 -Post Mining Land Use. An Access Road, leading from the Haul Road, provides access to the remainder of the east mine facilities. The gradient varies from 0 to I S%. For specific gradients and cross-sections see Maps 8-I, 8A-10 and 11, and Figure 2.05-3 in Volume 8A. For specifications and geotechnical information, see Section 4.03.2 and the Phases 1 and 11 Stability Appendices in Volume b. The road is not used for any coal transport, but instead for mine personnel access. The access road is an existing stntcture "within the disturbed area" so not all of the performance standards apply. The road was designed and constructed for overall convenience and safety. Occasional steep gradients were required to minimize visual impacts and disturbed area. Although the steep grades - 39 - 2198 7~-28~~ ~eN-o3 la/1y~9 9