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Request for Permit Termination; Lower Coal Basin Reclamation Construction Projects <br /> Stormwater Permit (COR-040204) <br /> The Coal Basin Mines were operated under a Mining Permit (C-81-017) issued to Mid- <br /> Continent Resources by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board. Subsequent to <br /> permit issuance, the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board revoked the permit and <br /> forfeited the reclamation bond. The Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology <br /> (Division) initiated reclamation operations at the site in 1995. Reclamation of the entire <br /> mine site was substantially completed in the fall of 2000. <br /> Reclamation of the entire Coal Basin Mine was accomplished as a series of smaller <br /> reclamation projects, each project targeting a specific portion of the larger disturbed area. <br /> The Division implemented various reclamation construction projects at the site through <br /> independent contractors. Completion of these projects was a necessary component of the <br /> reclamation process undertaken by the Division as required by the Colorado Surface Coal <br /> Mining Reclamation Act. <br /> The Division determined that submittal of a General Permit Application for Stormwater <br /> Discharges Associated With Mining for the reclamation projects being accomplished near <br /> the confluence of Dutch and Coal Creeks was desirable. To that end, the Division <br /> submitted the Lower Coal Basin Reclamation Construction Projects Stormwater Permit <br /> application. Water Quality Control Division approved the application in November 1998. <br /> The subject stormwater permit was issued for a very specific, well defined disturbed area <br /> located near the confluence of Dutch and Coal Creeks. The goals of reclamation for the <br /> subject area were to create geomorphically stable landforms and to establish functional, <br /> self sustaining vegetative communities by isolating coal refuse material from stormwater, <br /> stabilizing coal waste piles, constructing a permanent channel for Dutch Creek, applying <br /> topsoil to the disturbed areas and seeding the site. <br /> All earth-moving and revegetation activities were completed by the fall of 2000. As part <br /> of the reclamation process, topsoil was distributed and the areas were seeded. Severe <br /> scarification of the areas was accomplished using heavy equipment. The result of the <br /> scarification process was a land surface that disrupts surface water flows, resulting in <br /> significantly suppressed water velocities and discontinuous flow paths, thus greatly <br /> reducing erosion potential and resultant sediment delivery to receiving streams. <br /> Vegetative communities within the reclaimed areas have been successfully established. <br /> Vegetation greatly exceeds pre-reclamation levels, is diverse, and is significant in extent <br /> and cover. <br /> Reclamation succeeded in reducing sediment delivery to receiving streams by creating <br /> geomorphically stable, well vegetated landforms at the former locations of the coal <br /> processing facilities, a coal refuse disposal area, mine offices and equipment storage <br /> areas. <br /> 2 <br />