|
Doc Date:12/11/2001 III III I II I IIIIII III
<br />sss
<br />INTRODUCTION
<br />• The Sanbom Geek Mtne is an existing underground coal mine located immediately north of the
<br />Town of Somerset, Colorado which was developed in 1990 and has operated since that time. The
<br />mine is operated by Oxbow Muting, Inc. (OMI) to supply high quality bituminous coal primarily for
<br />utility and commercial heating use. The mine has operated as a conventional room and pillar
<br />underground mine producing up to 1,300,000 tons of coal annually. In order to rtnx+mnr coal
<br />recovery, achieve optimal operating efficiencies, and establish the foundation for future operations, a
<br />phased mine expansion was completed. The mine expansion involved upgrades to the surface and
<br />underground coal handling systems; installation of ahigh-efficiency longwa[I mining system;
<br />development of a new refuse disposal area; and expansion of mine production and coal handling
<br />capabilities to a level of 4,000,000 to 4,800,000 tons per yEaz. Development and mirtirtg of the Elk
<br />Creek Mine in the D Coal Seam is the next significant phase of OMI's expansion.
<br />The mine permit area includes the inactive Somerset MIne, the existing active Sanbom Geek Mme,
<br />the new Elk Geek Mute, mine-related surface facilities, and unmined reserve areas. The following
<br />summarizes existing and historical mining-related surface facilities and disturbance areas within the
<br />mine perrrtit area:
<br />Somerset Mine and Facilities -The Somerset NLne, which was mined almost continuously
<br />from 1902 to 1985 byvarious operators, is mined-out and the associated mine access portak
<br />have been sealed and abandoned.
<br />Bear Geek Facilities -The Beaz Creek Facilities supported the Somerset Mine and included
<br />an access road, substation, ventilation fan installation, water storage tank, rrtine portak, and
<br />coal degassification facilities. The mine portals were backfilled and sealed in 1986 and all
<br />stmctures and facilities were removed and associated disturbance areas reclaimed.
<br />Lower Hubbard Geek Facilities -The Lower Hubbard Geek Facilities supported the
<br />Somerset Mme and included an access road, substation, ventilation fan installation, mine
<br />portak, hoist facilities, and an inactive refuse disposal area. The mine portak were backfilled
<br />and sealed in 1986 and all structures and facihties were removed or demolished and
<br />associated disturbance areas reclaimed. As a pre-law disturbance that was not utilized or
<br />disturbed subsequent to 1974, the refuse disposal area was not reclaimed.
<br />Upper Hubbard Creek Facilities -The Upper Hubbard Creek Facilities supported the
<br />Somerset Mme and includes an access road, electrical substation, powerline, and sediment
<br />control structures. These facilities remain in place, except for the substation that was
<br />removed, but are not currently being utilized.
<br />Elk Creek Coal Handling, Support, and Ancillary Facilities -The Elk Creek Facilities include
<br />or included the main mine access road; the shop, warehouse, and office facilities; pazking for
<br />water storage tank; sanitary leach field; fuel and oil storage facility, rock dust storage bias;
<br />storage yard; various storage and ancillary buildings; Substation 1; the Somerset Mine B Seam
<br />and C Seam maim portak; ventilation fan installations for the B and C coal seams; mine track
<br />system; an overland conveyor, a stacking conveyor, two coal stockpile areas; a dump station
<br />and track scale; coal tipple with crusher and sampling installatioas; coal storage silo; coal mine
<br />waste pile; explosive magazines; two topsoil stockpiles; Sedimentation Pond B; and access
<br />roads extending up Ells Creek and to the C Seam portal area. With the exceptions of the B
<br />and C Seam portals, ventilation fan irutallauons, and mine track system which have been
<br />backfilled, sealed, removed, and reclaimed, the Ells Creek Facilities remain in place and are
<br />• being or will be utilized in conjunction with ongoing mining operations of the Sanbom Creek
<br />NLne and future operatioas of the Elk Geek Mate.
<br />Sanbom Geek Mute and Facilities -The Sanbom Geek Mine facilities include the mine
<br />haulage road; active mine portals; ventilation fan installation; overland conveyer, electrical
<br />PR04 1 Revised August 2000
<br />
|