2013-03-04_REPORT - C1981038 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1990 Reclamation Activities: No additional acreage was newly disturbed by mining or construction activities during the 1990 calendar year. Small acreages on both the east and west ridge waste disposal areas were re- disturbed to accommodate repairs to the West Ridge waste pile. This report will serve as the baseline reference document for all future reclamation reports. The report summarizes available information concerning the current reclamation status and reclamation history of both the Orchard Valley and Orchard Valley West mine sites. Reclamation History An extensive reclamation project was initiated in the fall of 1977 to address the Orchard Valley upper mine area, middle mine area, mine roads, and the new country road alignment near the existing coal stockpile. The reader is referred to the following document for a complete discussion of the details of this program: "Final Report, Reclamation, Colorado Westmoreland, Inc., Orchard Valley Mine, Paonia, Colorado, January 1978, by Thorne Ecological Institute ", and "History of Revegetation, Orchard Valley Mine, 1977 -1982, April, 1983, Prepared for CWI, Orchard Valley Mine, Paonia, Colorado, by Harner and Associates." Revegetation of cut and fill slopes was accomplished in 1978 on previously seeded but sparsely vegetated and eroded slopes stemming from excessive water runoff caused by the lack of an effective water diversion system. In 1979, a diversion channel and four sedimentation ponds were constructed to divert water away from the main mine facilities. Access roads to the sedimentation ponds and parking lot were also constructed. The Revegetation program of 1979 addressed disturbed areas associated with these facilities and encompassed approximately 12 acres of reclamation. Reclamation activities in 1980 focused on revegetating lands disturbed through minor construction activities conducted in 1979. the areas addressed in 1980 included the Orchard Valley Mine water pipeline, exploration drill pads, and miscellaneous roadways. The majority of the acreage reclaimed in 1980, approximately 3.5 acres, was associated with reclamation of the water line. The 1981 revegetation program encompassed minor disturbances consisting of miscellaneous roadways, Steven's Gulch well field structures, and the scale house and truck scales near the truck dump station. Construction of the West Ridge waste disposal area was initiated in July 1983. Lands available for reclamation at this site have been seeded and mulched on approximately annual bases since development began. The West Ridge waste disposal site encompasses approximately 3.37 acres. Approximately 2.20 acres of this site are currently reclaimed. Reclamation of the old waste disposal site near ponds 1 and 2 was completed in November of 1983. Vegetation was established on this 0.86 -acre site the following spring. Development of the East Ridge waste disposal site was initiated in 1983 in conjunction with development of the West Ridge site. The East Ridge saw topsoil salvaged and an intermediate material stockpile established to accommodate material being generated from the West Ridge development. Reclamation of the Orchard Valley West Mine fill slopes and associated disturbance was completed by the fall of 1987. Slope instability necessitated the relocation of topsoil at the mine site and subsequent reseeding and mulching of both the new pile and the old pile footprint was competed in the fall of 1990. Several small topsoil piles exist throughout the various disturbance areas on the mine.