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application was submitted to gain approval from the Division to remove Ponds 6, 10,11 and 13 along with <br />other drainage control features at CRDA #1 & #2, CBA #1 & #2 and the North Portal. With this revision <br />SCC also seeks approval to make changes to the final reclamation plans of Ponds 6, 10, and 11, Coal Gulch, <br />the Coal Canyon drainage and Roadside North Portal. <br />The permit revision application was deemed complete for the purposes of filing on March 13, 2012 and <br />notification of the complete application was sent to required entities per Rule 2.07.3(3)(b) on the same day. <br />The Division did not receive comments from any of the agencies notified of the application. <br />Snowcap Coal Company published public notice of its permit revision application in the Grand Junction Daily <br />Sentinel once a week for four consecutive weeks, beginning March 16, 2012. Copies of the application were <br />filed with the Mesa County Clerk and Recorder's Office, and at the Denver and Grand Junction offices of the <br />Division. There were no comments regarding this permit revision application received by the Division as a <br />result of the public notice. <br />The Division's preliminary adequacy review letter was sent to SCC on April 20, 2012. SCC responded with a <br />submittal package dated May 3, 2012, in which SCC fully addressed all adequacy concerns identified in the <br />Division's preliminary review. The Division conducted an Applicant/Violator System (AVS) query on June 1, <br />2012 and noted several discrepancies between the permit application package and the AVS. The Division sent <br />a second adequacy review letter to SCC on June 1, 2012 as a result of the AVS check. SCC responded with a <br />June 21, 2012 submittal, in which SCC fully addressed all remaining adequacy concerns. <br />The reclamation cost estimate for the Roadside Portals was reevaluated and updated to reflect the changes to <br />the reclamation plan proposed in PR -5. The operator has proposed to eliminate plans to relocate a section of <br />Coal Gulch and a section of Coal Creek to their original channels, and will retain the Cameo Mine East and <br />West diversion ditches permanently. The liability prior to PR -5 was $1,005,256.00. The revised reclamation <br />liability will be $805,952.60, a decrease of $199,303.40. The revised liability decrease is primarily due to: 1) <br />Tasks associated with relocation of Coal Gulch were removed. Those tasks (172,173,174, and 175) total <br />$58,222.00; 2) Task 79, reclamation of the Cameo Mine East and West diversion ditches was removed, a <br />decrease of $502.00; and 3) Revegetation costs decreased significantly ($118,497.35) due to lower seed <br />acquisition costs. The Division currently holds a surety bond in the amount of $1,005,256.00, which is greater <br />than the calculated liability amount. <br />The Applicant/Violator System (AVS) was queried on June 1, 2012 and again on July 6, 2012. The Division <br />recommends approval for the permit revision. The proposed decision to approve the revision was issued on <br />July 10, 2012. <br />Description of the Environment <br />Geographic Setting <br />The Roadside North and South Portals Mine complex lies in the alluvial valley of the Colorado River along <br />Interstate 70 (I -70) just east of the town of Palisade. The river and interstate trend northeast to southwest <br />through the mine area, with the North Portal facilities and mine workings located to the west and north, and the <br />South Portal facilities and mine workings to the east and south. Located 12 miles from Grand Junction, the <br />mines are situated in DeBeque Canyon in the Bookcliffs, a ridge comprised of vari- colored shales and <br />sandstones trending northwest - southeast. The Bookcliffs border the Grand Valley to the east where the <br />Colorado River exits the highlands of the cliffs and enters the valley. Mount Garfield, a prominent peak in the <br />Permit Revision No. 5 6 July 10, 2012 <br />