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

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• 2.05.3 found in Section 2.05.3(3)(b), Operations Plan. The prior applicant's pre-existing transportation facility is a rail spur for loading of a unit train, approximately two miles long and includes a bridge over the North Fork of the Gunnison. The spur connects the storage and Load-out facilities with the Denver and Rio Grande Western Mainline. The spur is computer designed and is shown on Map 8-3. The spur was designed, constructed, and is maintained to prevent damage to fish and wildlife, control erosion and sedi- ment transport, and degradation to water or air resources. It has been inspected and designed for control of water run-off through the use of vegetative buffers and straw dikes. Sedimentation ponds were not used because of the increase in disturbed lands and visual impacts. The applicant also owns and operates orchard lands surrounding the rail spur. The orchard serves as a good buffer area for the slight impacts associated with the existing rail spur. The rail, ballast, and tie design conform to standard A.R.E.A specifications. All ditch relief culverts are constructed as shown in Figure 2.05-4 in the Mine Facilities Appendix in Volume 8A. The inlet end is protected from erosion through the use of standard metal end sections or concrete head walls. Rip-rap is also utilized to dissipate flow energy. Where required, trash screens are used to catch trash and minimize culvert blockages. Culverts are normally skewed to the road to more easily accommodate flows. • In compliance with a stipulation attached to Lease C-37210, CWI prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) on coat n'ansportation alternatives to trucking. The EA is included in the Transportation EA Appendix in Volume 7. The stipulation provides: "The lessee, prior to mining coal, will prepare a NEPA quality environmental analysis assessing alternative methods of transportation. The purpose of the assessment is to determine the most environmentally acceptable and least impacting route andlor means of hauling coal to the Load- out facility. The assessment will consider all impacted resources." "The alternatives assessed will be determined by BLM (`4ontrose District} in consultation with the lessee, Delta County and State of Colorado (Ivfined Land Reclamation Division and State Department of Transportation). The SLht, with the above consulting agencies, will determine if the analysis meets NEPA requirements upon its completion. The most environmentally and economically acceptable and least impacting route and/or means of hauling coal to the Load-out facility will be submitted by the lessee as part of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division permit application. The assessment will be accompanied by a separate analysis of the economic feasibility of each alternative assessed to be utilized in the decision making process." The prior applicant has included the alternative determined by the Regulatory Authority to be the, "most environmentally and economically acceptable and feast impacting route and/or means of hauling coal", more specifically -continued trucking to meet market levels, in the permit. - 1 I - ?/98 7/~'-281RN-o3 t~/~'r/Y9