Laserfiche WebLink
to backfill and grade the entire site in one operation. Complete excavation of the fill material and <br />removal of the East Roatcap Creek culvert would not leave enough room to construct a new <br />sediment pond to treat the runoff from the reclaimed area. Therefore, BRL decided to reclaim the <br />site in two separate stages. <br />The first stage involved backfilling and grading the upper two thirds of the site and leaving the <br />East Roatcap Creek culvert and about 10 feet of cover fill in place. About 300,000 yds of fill <br />were moved, with 10,000 yds remaining. This allowed enough room to construct two new <br />sediment ponds directly over the East Roatcap Creek culvert. <br />Once the upper area is stabilized with vegetation, stage two will begin. The remaining fill over <br />the East Roatcap Creek culvert will be excavated, eliminating the two new sediment ponds. Then <br />the East Roatcap Creek culvert will be removed. If needed, another new, but smaller, sediment <br />pond will be constructed at the down gradient end of this disturbance. <br />A 200,000 gallon water tank and ventilation fan were part of the West Mine fan area, which lies <br />one - quarter mile north of the portal cut. The ventilation fan structure and the water tank were <br />dismantled and removed offsite. In 2000, the ventilation fan shaft was filled with a layer of non- <br />combustible material, followed by coal refuse from the run -of -mine coal stockpile. The <br />ventilation shaft was later reworked because the fill settled. After the fill stabilized, the shaft was <br />topped with non - combustible material. A concrete plug, reinforced with rebar, was poured over <br />the filled shaft which was then covered with fill material. <br />BRL applied for a partial Phase I bond release, designated SL -02, for the completed reclamation <br />work at the Bowie No. 1 East Mine and the Bowie No. 1 West Mine. The Division approved this <br />bond release request on April 9, 2004. The Division is currently reviewing a Phase I bond <br />release request (SL -04) for the East Mine areas. <br />The train loadout included a scale, a truck dump, three silos, two conveyors, and a loadout <br />building linked to a rail spur. These structures have been demolished and removed offsite. A <br />small shop, sewage treatment and substation are still in place at the site. Although mining has <br />ceased, the unit train loadout is still being used occasionally. <br />All facilities and coal handling structures are in compliance with the rules and regulations. <br />III. Hydrologic Balance - Rule 4.05 <br />The drainage and sediment control system designs at the mine and loadout were reviewed for <br />compliance with Rules 2.05.3(4) and 4.05. This information is briefly described in the permit <br />application section applicable to Rule 2.05. Substantial design detail can be found in Volumes 8 <br />and 8A, Sheet 6, of the Bowie No. 1 West Mine design specifications, Volume 6, Map 6A -2C of <br />the Waste Disposal Appendix, and Map 6A -5D of the Reclaimed Configuration Appendix. <br />Findings <br />The applicant has demonstrated that sediment ponds and /or treatment facilities will function <br />properly to ensure that disturbed area drainage will meet the effluent limitations of 4.05.2 and the <br />applicable State and Federal water quality requirements for downstream receiving waters. <br />Page 21 of 42 <br />