1987-12-01_PERMIT FILE - C1981017 ‎(201)‎

• Permit No: C1981017
• IBM Index Class Name: PERMIT FILE
• Doc Date: 12/1/1987
• Doc Name: Geotechinical Investigations Mine portal Benches and Haul Roads- Table of Contents
• Section_Exhibit Name: Volume V V-E-11
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

INTRODUCTION
Rule 4.03. 1 of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation
Division 's Rules and Regulations for Coal Mining addresses_
specific criteria for the design and construction of haul
roads. Since the haul roads in Coal Basin were constructed
many years prior to passage of the Surface Mining Control
and Reclamation Act of 1977, there were no design standards
for construction of these roads. Rule 4.03. 1 (e) allows for
alternative design criteria and specifications to be used if
it can be shown that "such alternatives will be as environ-
mentally sound and structurally stable as that resulting
from haul roads complying with the requirements of 4.03. 1
and meet such other criteria as are necessary to acheive
reclamation in accordance with the requirement of this rule,
taking into consideration physical , climatological and other
characteristics of the site" [emphasis addedl.
The purpose of this certification is to determine if
the Coal Basin Haul Roads meet the criteria of Rule
4.03. 1 (e) . I hereby state that I am a professional engineer
in the State of Colorado and have been involved in the
construction and reclamation of mine haul roads for seven
years. In addition, I have been in charge of maintaining the
Coal Basin road/drainage system for the last two years and
have made many personal observations concerning the
stability of this road.
BACKGROUND
Mid-Continent Resources, Inc. has been actively
involved in underground mining operations in Coal Basin
since 1956. Approximately 15 miles of haul roads were
constructed from the lower preparation plant (altitude
8000 ' ) to the mine portals (altitude 10,000'+) (Figure 1) .
The topography of the Basin consists of a broad valley
surrounded by a very steep sloped ridge. The ridge is made
up of Mesa Verde shales and sandstones while the valley is
composed mainly of Mancos Shale and colluvial outwash from
the Mesa Verde formation. Avalanches and rock slides are
very common occurrences in Coal Basin. Heavy winter snows
(150+ inches annually) combined with intense summer
thunderstorms are causing the topography of the Basin to be
in a continual state of change.
The road systems connecting the mine portals and the
preparation plant were constructed many years prior to the
enactment of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
of 1977. Accordingly, design of the roads was dictated by
considerations other than the design standards of the
Federal Act. The haul roads were constructed taking into
account the following criteria:
- surface topography of the surrounding area.