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and facilities in order to accommodate a commercial postmining land use. The mine portals, the former
<br />warehouse and shop facilities, the preparation plant/raw coal storage area, the lab /training facilities, and the
<br />equipment and material storage area atop the refuse pile have been Phase III bond released. All remaining areas
<br />at the South Portals and vicinity, with the exception of Ponds 8 and 9, have had a Phase I bond release including
<br />the sideslopes of the Roadside South Refuse Disposal Area, RSRDA Borrow Area, and upper diversion ditches.
<br />History
<br />The DeBeque Canyon area within and adjacent to the current permit area has been historically disturbed by coal
<br />mining activities since the late 1800's, and the Colorado River alluvial valley floor area which has been altered
<br />and affected by these operations has been "grandfathered" into the permit area. The Cameo Power Plant, which
<br />was a customer for coal from the Roadside Portals when the mine was operating, is located just south of the North
<br />Portal facilities, on the west side of the river. The Cameo Power Plant closed at the end of 2010 and is in the
<br />process of being dismantled.
<br />Underground mining operations using modern, mechanized methods began in 1974. Between 1974 and 1999,
<br />approximately 242 acres of surface lands were disturbed in conjunction with the operation. GEX Colorado, Inc.
<br />submitted the original permanent program permit application for the Roadside and Cameo Mines on February 17,
<br />1981, pursuant to Section 34 -33 -109 of the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act. On December 31,
<br />1981, the Roadside and Cameo Mines were purchased by Powderhorn Coal Company (PCC). Following the
<br />review process for the initial permanent program permit application, the Division issued a permit with
<br />stipulations on January 3, 1983.
<br />On November 9, 1984, Powderhorn Coal Company submitted plans for a permit revision to construct two new
<br />coal processing waste embankments to be located north (CRDA -2) and west (CRDA -3) of the existing Cameo
<br />Refuse Disposal Area (CRDA -1). This revision was approved on March 11, 1985.
<br />In October 1986, Powderhorn Coal Company notified the Division of temporary cessation of operations at the
<br />Roadside and Cameo Mines. In early 1987, Peabody Holding Company (Peabody) purchased the inactive
<br />Roadside and Cameo Mines. Peabody retained the Powderhorn Coal Company name for the company. On April
<br />20, 1989, Powderhorn Coal Company (PCC) notified the Division of its intent to emerge from temporary
<br />cessation status on May 1, 1989. The mine was active from that date, until December, 1999, producing up to
<br />70,000 tons of clean coal per month. Up until November 1994, production was limited to the Roadside South
<br />Portal, but at that time the North Portal was reactivated, and coal was produced from both portals until early
<br />1997, when all coal production was shifted to the North Portal. Due primarily to coal quality problems, mining
<br />ceased on December 2, 1999. By letter of December 13, 1999, the operator notified the Division that cessation of
<br />operations would extend beyond 30 days. A subsequent letter received by the Division on March 14, 2000,
<br />provided official notice that the cessation of operations was permanent, pursuant to Rule 4.30. Current official
<br />status of the operation is "Active ", due to on -going reclamation activity. There are no plans for future coal
<br />extraction at the operation.
<br />The original permit has been granted renewal for successive five year permit terms five times, the most recent
<br />renewal decision was finalized December 28, 2007, for a permit term extending through January 3, 2013. One
<br />permit revision, three technical revisions and two minor revisions were submitted and processed since Midterm
<br />Permit Review No. 6 was issued, and two bond liability releases (SL -6 and SL -7) have been issued. All previous
<br />stipulations and conditions have been terminated or complied with and there are no new stipulations added with
<br />Permit Renewal No. 6. The recent permitting actions are summarized below.
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