2011-06-27_REPORT - C1980006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Kerr (Marr) Mine - 2010 Annual Hydrology Report 1.0 OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS All but 8 acres remaining at the mine site area and the Loadout site achieved final bond release (SL -04) as approved January 5, 2009. To recapitulate, a brief history of operations is presented below. Active mining and coal production operations at the Marr Mine ceased in January 1993. During the active life of the mine, mining operations occurred in three areas; the Marr Pit, 720 Pit, and Pit 1. Mining was completed and most of the associated disturbance in the Marr Pit area was reclaimed during the period from 1979 through 1983. Contemporaneous reclamation occurred as mining progressed and the remainder of the 720 Pit and Pit 1 areas were backfilled and reclaimed during the period from 1993 through 1996. A spoils monitoring well (SP -01) was installed at the north end of the 720 Pit area in 2001 and subsequently, was converted to a stock watering well for the landowner. The only ongoing activities for the sites are site maintenance, environmental monitoring, and reclamation permit compliance activities. Kerr Coal Company (Kerr) in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Natural Resources Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS), the United Stated Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) completed a program during 2002 to identify, plug, seal, and reclaim a number of old exploration boreholes and shallow alluvial monitoring wells in the Kerr North Area, aka, North Lease Area located north of County Road 12E. In 2006, Pond C (CDPS #303) and Pond G and their associated soil stockpiles and ditches were reclaimed. Pond F was recommended for permanent status in 2006 and the decision for permanence was approved in 2007. In 2007 (TR -23) Kerr recommended that all surface, groundwater and vegetation monitoring at the mine be revised (terminated) because all the requirements of the permit had been met. Subsiquently,TR -23 was approved and monitoring of water and vegetation at the mine site has ceased. 2.0 BOND RELEASE Kerr submitted a bond release request to the DRMS on September 6, 2007. Bond Release Request No. 4 (SL -04) requested release of Phases I, II and III of the majority of areas at the mine site as specified in the request. Excluded were two parcels (approximately 4 acres each) located east and south of the shop facilities that were not yet eligible for release due to timing of the 10 year reclamation liability period and so were not released. Prior to approval of the bond release request, the former water monitoring wells located at the mine site were sealed and reclaimed during October, 2008. The wells are identified as: 79 -1; 79 -2; 79 -3; 79- 61 and AO -2A. The Spoil Well, SP -01 (former monitoring well) was converted to a Stock Watering Well at the request of the landowner and approval of the Colorado Water Division and the DRMS. Locations of the wells are shown on Map 1, Mine Area Monitoring Stations. Approval of the bond release (SL -04) became final on January 5, 2009 as approved by the DRMS and with concurrence of the respective agencies, OSM and the BLM. The Loadout Site, south of the town of Walden is eligible for bond release pending backfilling and reclamation of the small sedimentation pond located at the Loadout and the approval for release by the DRMS. The Loadout site will continue to be monitored as required until final release is approved.. 3.0 MONITORING AND ANALYSES Water monitoring requirements during the 2010 water year (Oct. 2009 through Sept. 2010) were superseded by TR -23 which was approved October 15, 2007 and monitoring was terminated at the Kerr mine site. Ground water and surface water monitoring continues at the Loadout facilities until release of that site becomes appropriate and final release is approved. 1