1992-07-22_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981017

• Permit No: C1981017
• IBM Index Class Name: GENERAL DOCUMENTS
• Doc Date: 7/22/1992
• Doc Name: Bid Documents ‎(IMP)‎ Proposed Decision & Findings
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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The load-out facility, although only 20-40 feet topographically higher than
the alluvial valley floor immediately adjacent to the facility, is not within
the alluvial ground water area as evidenced by well depths of three wells at
the load-out (85-90 feet) . Therefore, the load-out facility should not affect
the ground water system that supplies the alluvial valley floor.
Runoff water from the 2.7 acres of disturbance at the load-out will be
contained within the sediment control system. This water will temporarily be
stored in a sediment pond until effluent standards can be met and it can be
released into the natural drainage system. This water will be monitored to
insure that there is no material damage to the quality of water supplying the
alluvial valley floor. In addition, the amount of surface water from 2.7
acres of disturbance is small and, therefore, would have a very minor effect
on the quality of water.
The quantity of water from the load-out facility will also not be affected.
The water from the disturbed area will be released once it meets effluent
standards, and only a small amount will be lost as dead storage below the
sediment clean-out level of the sediment pond. This amount should be more
than made up for by the increased runoff over natural conditions, from the
paved roads. In addition, the quantity of water from the load-out is very
minor in comparison to the water used in irrigation.
Based on the above discussion and pursuant to Rule 2.06.8(5) (iii) , the
Division finds that the proposed surface coal mining and reclamation
operations will be conducted to preserve, throughout the mining process, the
essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors.
The proposed operation is in compliance with the requirements addressed in
this section.
IX. Climatolo ical and Air Resources Information - Rules 2.04.8,
2.05.4 2 h , 2.05.6 1 and 4.17
Climatological information in section III-F of Volume 6 and Air Resource
information in Chapter IV, section A of Volume 7 of the application were
reviewed by the Division for compliance. The applicant has supplied all the
climatological information required by the Rules and Regulations.
The applicant contends that the majority of the proposed mining operation is
exempt from emissions permits. The only existing emissions permit is for one
of the two thermal dryers at the preparations plant. A letter from the
Colorado Department of Health in Appendix IV-A-1 , states that all sources of
air pollution that existed prior to February 1 , 1972 are exempt from emissions
permits. Mines Numbers 1 , 2, 3, and 4 were definitely opened prior to this
date, but there was some question whether Coal Basin Mine No. 5 was opened
prior to this date. In several places in the application, it was stated that
the Coal Basin Mine was opened after 1972. However, the applicant supplied
adequate information to show that Mine No. 5 was opened prior to 1972.
Therefore, the proposed operation is in compliance with the requirements of
this section.