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

-57-
In response to the Division's concerns expressed (as outlined above) , the
applicant has proposed to defer completion of a detailed plan for the
reduction of haul roads until the completion of the rock tunnel . Because the
entire road system is now in existence in its maximum proposed state of
disturbance and because reclamation will not occur until sometime between the
completion of the rock tunnel and the cessation of mining in Coal Basin
(approximately 40 years in the future) , the topic is amenable to stipulation.
The Division finds that the following stipulation is necessary for a finding
of compliance with the reclamation requirements of Rules 2.05.3(3) and 4.03.
Stipulation No. 8
THE DIVISION DIRECTS THE PERMITTEE TO COMPLETE A THOROUGH MAPPING OF
THE EXISTING HAUL ROAD SYSTEM AT THE COAL BASIN MINES. THIS MAPPING
SHALL INCLUDE TOPICS SUCH AS BEDROCK AND SURFICIAL GEOLOGY, EXPOSURE TO
LANDSLIDING AND AVALANCHING, METHOD OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION (CUT VERSUS
FILL), AND ORIGINAL CROSS-SLOPE ANGLES, AT A MINIMUM. THE PURPOSE OF
THIS RECONNAISSANCE AND MAPPING PROGRAM SHALL BE TO CATEGORIZE THE
EXISTING HAUL ROAD SYSTEM, IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE DEVELOPMENT OF TYPICAL
RECLAMATION PROCEDURES FOR EACH CATEGORY OF ROAD. THE PERMITTEE SHALL
COMPLETE THIS MAPPING AND CATEGORIZATION AND SUBMIT THE MAPS AND
ACCOMPANYING REPORT TO THE DIVISION FOR REVIEW PRIOR TO DECEMBER 31 ,
1983.
FURTHER, THE PERMITTEE SHALL PREPARE A DETAILED MATERIAL BALANCE,
DESIGNATING THE PROPOSED SOURCE OF MATERIALS TO BE UTILIZED IN
COMPLETING THE BACKFILLING AND GRADING OF THE HAUL ROAD SYSTEM. THE
PERMITTEE SHALL ALSO PROPOSE SPECIFIC BACKFILL, GRADING, DRAINAGE, AND
RECLAMATION PROCEDURES TO ASSURE OPTIMUM STABILITY OF THE FINAL REDUCED
HAUL ROAD CONFIGURATION. THE PERMITTEE SHALL SUBMIT THE PROPOSED
DETAILED, HAUL ROAD RECLAMATION PLAN AND THE DETAILED MATERIAL BALANCE
TO THE DIVISION ACCORDING TO THE SCHEDULE ON PAGE 21 .4 OF CHAPTER V,
VOLUME 7 OF THE APPLICATION.
The access road from Redstone to the preparation plant is a 22 foot wide,
two-lane asphalt surface structure generally located on an abandoned railroad
right-of-way paralleling Coal Creek. All vehicles carrying the personnel ,
equipment, and supplies, and trucks carrying the clean coal to the Carbondale
train load-out use this road.
The applicant supplied no evidence that the access road meets the requirements
for road cuts and road embankments. Field inspection of the road cuts and
embankments by the Division indicated no problems. This road has been in
existence since the first mine opened in 1956 and portions of the road are on
the old railroad grade to the original Coal Basin Mine. The road has only
required minor maintenance since it was constructed in 1956, and since the
road cuts were not extensively modified from those on the original railroad
grade, they are considered to be stable. In addition, based on field
observations, the embankment slopes meet the requirements of Rule 4.03.2(3)(d) .