|
• TR -72, pending, proposed to modify the gob vent borehole plan on surface managed by the
<br />USFS within the Springhouse Park IRA.
<br />• TR -73, approved February 17, 2012, allowed the construction of a coal mine, methane
<br />fueled, electricity generator and relocation of an alluvial monitoring well.
<br />Twelve Minor Revisions (MRs)
<br />• MR -88, approved May 13, 2009, modified the Bear Creek Fansite utility borehole sizes.
<br />• MR -89, approved June 4, 2010, approved the addition of an air compressor building.
<br />• MR -90, approved July 28, 2010, move one gob vent bore hole.
<br />• MR -91, approve September 17, 2010, incorporate bore hole abandonment reports into the
<br />PAP.
<br />• MR -92, approved September 21, 2010, provided for two angle bore holes at existing pads.
<br />• MR -93, approved December 20, 2010, provided for four angle bore holes at existing pads.
<br />• MR -94, approved January 4, 2011, incorporated bore hole abandonment reports and an as-
<br />built map for the Bear Creek Fansite.
<br />• MR -95, approved March 22, 2011, provided for sixteen angle bore holes at existing pads.
<br />• MR -96, approved June 1, 2011, provided for two angle bore holes at existing pads.
<br />• MR -97, approved January 3, 2012, addition of ventilation fan at Bear Creek Fansite.
<br />• MR -98, approved February 16, 2012, updated ownership and control information.
<br />• MR -99, approved April 16, 2012, provided for four angle bore holes at existing pads.
<br />As the mine has been in operation since 1902, much of the disturbed area associated with the
<br />mine was affected prior to the effective date of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
<br />of 1977 and the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act. Baseline environmental
<br />factors were not measured, and no topsoil was salvaged prior to previous disturbance.
<br />Disturbances which have been conducted since the effective date of the Act have been permitted
<br />and conducted in compliance with the Act and Regulations. These activities include the
<br />Hubbard Creek Ventilation Fan No. 2 facility, the methane degas wells, the Sanborn Creek Tract,
<br />the Elk Creek Facilities, the West Valley and II West Coal Refuse Facilities, and the new Bear
<br />Creek Fansite Facility. All other areas of disturbance at the mine occurred prior to the effective
<br />date of the Act.
<br />All surfaces will be returned to the approximate original contour (AOC) with two exceptions.
<br />The original Bear Creek and Hubbard Creek ventilation facilities will be backfilled only to the
<br />extent practical, given the fact that these small facilities areas are pre- existing and cut into steep
<br />slopes. Furthermore, requests are on file from the federal agencies who manage the surface in
<br />those areas to maintain them in their present condition - as gravel pad parking lots for users of
<br />the access. These requests are from the US Forest Service for the Upper Hubbard Creek area and
<br />from the US Bureau of Land Management for the Lower Hubbard Creek site.
<br />A variance from AOC has been granted in accordance with the backfilling and grading
<br />provisions of the Regulations (see Section VII of this document). Permanent waste piles will be
<br />blended into the surrounding topography. The main mine access road will be left in place
<br />following mining in order to provide access to the Somerset Cemetery and Elk Creek. The
<br />power line access road and power line corridor will be reclaimed.
<br />12
<br />
|