HomeMy WebLinkAbout20091252.tiff•
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ENERGY COMPANY
P.O. BOX 467 GOLDEN, COLORADO 80402
May IS, 2009
City Clerk's Office
Keenesburg Town Hall
140 South Main
Keenesburg, Colorado 80643
Weld County Clerk & Recorder
P.O. Box 459
Greeley, Colorado 80632
Re: Technical Revision No. 40 -- Proposed
Modify Final Reclamation Contours
Keenesburg Mine
Keenesburg, Colorado
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In accordance with the rules and regulations governing coal mining and reclamation operations in
the State of Colorado, public notice and a public review period is to be provided when a
Technical Revision to an existing Permit is proposed. Coors Energy Company has submitted its
Technical Revision No. 40, requesting approval of a change to the approved final reclamation
contours across the long-term spoil area (only), at the Keenesburg Mine near Keenesburg,
Colorado. This change, if approved, will provide for a better blend of reclamation with the
undisturbed lands, and will insure adequate material for final cover. Notice has been placed in
the local newspaper closest to the operations site (the Ft. Lupton Press) and a copy of the
proposed Technical Revision is enclosed.
Would you please place this letter and the enclosed documents in a location where they can be
made available to members of the public who might wish to review the contents. Thank you for
your assistance.
Manager, Energy Services
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2009-1252
PUBLIC NOTICE
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Coors Energy Company, P.O. Box 467, Golden, CO 80402, (303) 277-
3455, has applied to the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining &
Safety (DRMS) for approval of a technical revision to modify final
reclamation contours across the long term spoil area of the Keenesburg
Mine site. The intent of the revision is to better blend reclaimed land
contours with previously undisturbed ground while insuring adequate
material for final cover. Coors Energy Company owns and operates the
Keenesburg Mine under DRMS Permit C-1981-028.
The Keenesburg Mine is located 7 miles north of Keenesburg, Colorado,
and is accessed by Weld County Road 59. The USGS 7.5 -minute
quadrangle maps "Klug Ranch" and "Tampa" contain the described
operation. The permitted area is portions of Sections 25 and 36, T3N-
R64W, 6th Principal Meridian, Weld County, Colorado. A more exact
description of the permit boundary, included herein by reference, may
be found in the Permit Application Package under Legal Description.
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Copies of the application may be viewed at the Town Hall, 140 S. Main,
Keenesburg, Colorado; at the Weld County Clerk and Recorder's
Office, 1402 N. 17th Ave., Greeley, Colorado; and at the Colorado
Division of Reclamation, Mining & Safety, 1313 Sherman Street, Room
215, Denver, Colorado 80203, (303) 866-3567. Copies of the Permit
Application Package are on file at the Keenesburg Mine Site and at the
Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining & Safety.
All comments, objections, and requests must be submitted in writing to
the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining & Safety at the above
address. The public comment period extends for ten days following the
date of publication of this notice.
Published in the Ft. Lupton Press, on May ,a(L, 2009.
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illi ENERGY COMPANY
P.O. BOX 467 GOLDEN, COLORADO 80402
April 22, 2009
Ms. Janet Binns
Division of Reclamation, Mining & Safety
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Re: Technical Revision No 40
Modification of Final Contours — Long Term Spoil Area
Dear Ms. Binns:
Coors Energy Company (CEC) is requesting consideration by the Colorado Division of
Reclamation Mining and Safety (DRMS) for a Technical Revision to Permit C-1981-028. The
effect of this Technical Revision (TR) will be to modify the final contour over the Long Term
Spoil Area (LTSA), only. The submittal is offered following lengthy discussion and review of
the material balance across the LTSA, the receipt of recently updated site -life calculations, and
general grading observations as portions of the LTSA were re -contoured to match the advance of
the B -Pit fill activity.
With the earlier processing and approval of Technical Revision No. 34, CEC was attempting to
address what, at the time was considered to be an amount of material in excess of the reclamation
requirements across the LTSA. CEC subsequently made a change in engineering support
services, and this change led to significant advancements in mapping support. The increased
reliability and repeatability of the data, has convinced CEC that while the earlier change was in
the right direction, it was too extreme, resulting in a higher than necessary relief configuration
across the LTSA, and a potential shortage of material for the effective final cover of B -Pit.
Through its submittal of this Technical Revision 40, CEC is asking for DRMS concurrence with a
reduction in the impact of the previous TR; to increase and insure there is an adequate amount of
spoil material for B -Pit final cover, and to accomplish this without significantly altering (by less
than one foot, on average) the final contour across the LTSA.
We have enclosed, as supporting documentation, (3 copies each of) a summary page for
Technical Revision 40, an evaluation by American Environmental Consulting LLC, consultant to
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CEC, updated maps for reference and for replacement (specifically Plate 2) in the Permit, and the
DRMS Application Form. Included also is a proposed notice for publication. This notice will be
placed in the local newspaper as soon as CEC receives concurrence from DRMS as to the format
and content. Copies of the Technical Revision application will be delivered to the Keenesburg
Town Hall and to the Weld County Clerk and Recorder's office for public access and review once
approval is received and at the time the notice is published.
CEC believes that the documentation herein submitted is complete and sufficient for the
processing of this Technical Revision No. 40. However, should there be questions, please contact
us at 303 277-3455.
Since
Donald W. Mac onald
Manager, Energy Services
. COLORADO DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
1313 Sherman Street, Room 215, Denver, Colorado 80203, (303) 866-3567
APPLICATION FORM FOR A REVISION
TO A COAL MINING AND RECLAMATION PERMIT
This form must be completed and submitted with all requests for minor revisions, as defined in Rule 1.04(73),
technical revisions, as defined in Rule 1.04(136), and permit revisions, as defined in Rule 1.04(90). All revisions
are to address the requirements of Rule 2.08.4. Three (3) copies of the revision, including maps, must be
submitted in order for it to be complete.
All revisions are to be formatted so they can be inserted into the permit to replace the revised sections, maps,
tables and/or figures, with a revised table of contents, if necessary. The revision submittal date should be printed
in the lower right corner of each revision page. A cover letter to the revision should explain the nature of the
revision and reference the specific permit sections being revised.
For federal mines, a copy of the revision application must be submitted to all agencies on the federal mailing list
(except OSM) at the same time the application is submitted to the Division, and proof of distribution must be
submitted to the Division along with the application. Copies of revision pages modified during the review process
must be distributed in the same manner, along with proof of distribution. Proof of distribution must be submitted
prior to implementation of the revision.
Permit No.: C - 1981 - 028 Date: 04 / 22 / 2009
Permittee: Coors Energy Company
Street: P.O. Box 467
City: Golden
State: CO Zip Code: 80402 _ 0467
Brief Description of Revision:
Modify Final Reclamation
Contours - Long Term
Spoil Area
Public Notice Attached: Yes X No _ (Required for PRs and TRs)
Bond Increase: Yes _ No a Federal _ Non -Federal X Mine
Proposed Change in:
Permit Area -
Disturbed (+/-) _ _
Permit (+/-)
Affected (+/-)
Mineral Ownership -
Mineral Private (+/-) _
Mineral Federal (+/-) _
0 . 0 Acres
_0. 0 Acres
0 . A Acres
0 . 0 Acres Mineral State (+/-) _ _ 0 .0 Acres
0 . 0 Acres
Surface Ownership -
Private Land (+/-) _ _ 0 .0 Acres
Federal Land (+/-)_ _ 0 0 Acres
State Land (+/-) _ _ 0 .0 Acres
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TECHNICAL REVISION NO. 40
MODIFICATION OF THE RECLAMATION CONTOURS
ACROSS THE LONG-TERM SPOIL AREA
COORS ENERGY COMPANY
PERMIT NO. C-1981-028
In submitting this Technical Revision No. 40, Coors Energy Company (CEC) seeks to modify
the final contour over the area known as the Long Term Spoil Area (LTSA). This area,
identified in Appendix Q -1 of the Keenesburg Mine Permit, Permit Number C-1981-028 (the
"Permit"), has been the source of material for both the intermediate and final cover of ash in the
ash disposal pits ("A" & “B").
The necessity for this permit modification stems from a revised engineering evaluation of the
remaining versus the required overburden (spoil materials from the LTSA) volumes. The
evaluation was initiated by American Environmental Consulting, LLC (AEC). This evaluation
has been relined over the past few years as the annual topographic mapping has been completed
in greater detail.
The final determination is that the LTSA, as it is currently configured, has a shortfall of
approximately 58,098 bank cubic yards (bcy) of overburden material necessary to complete the
reclamation work in B -Pit.
Since Section 2.05.4 of the Permit indicates that "major disturbed areas will be returned to their
approximate original contour", CEC proposes that the approximate original contour be modified
across the I,TSA to better meet the soil cover requirements while also blending to the existing
perimeter contours to remain consistent with the drainage plan. When viewed across the entire
acreage encompassed by the Permit, CEC believes that these contour changes are consistent with
the intent of the term 'approximate-, as used therein.
Submitted with this application are copies (3 each) of the following:
Reclamation Contour and Drainage Plan Map - as Revised: This is Appendix Q -I to the
Permit, and is updated each year in the Annual Hydrology and Reclamation Report (AHR
Report).
Letter dated 4/7/2008 from AEC to CEC describing the evaluation, and providing the
proposal with respect to the LTSA.
CEC is not seeking an adjustment to the bonding amounts with this Technical Revision since the
lands subject to this proposed revision are already included in the calculation of "total area
remaining to he reclaimed (2008 Al IR Report. page 77). No new mining activity is proposed
by this Technical Revision. Further, the activities proposed by this Technical Revision No. 40
require no placement of dredge or till material, or any excavation associated with a dredged or
fill project. either temporary or permanent, in waters of the United States.
The Division's approval of this Technical Revision No. 40 to modify the final contour over the
Long Term Spoil Area, is hereby requested.
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AEC
AMERICAN
ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSULTING, LLC
April 7, 2009
Mr. Donald MacDonald
Manager, Energy Services
Coors Energy Company
P.O. Box 467
Golden, Colorado 80402
Re: Evaluation of Remaining and Required Reclamation Overburden Volumes
Proposed Technical Revision to Approximate Original Contour
Coors Energy Company-Keenesburg Mine Facility, Permit No. C-1981-028
Dear Mr. MacDonald:
Coors Energy Company (CEC) has contracted American Environmental Consulting, LLC (AEC)
to provide engineering consulting services for the Keenesburg Mine Facility located in Weld
County, Colorado (facility). This letter report proposes a revision to the approved contours in
the long-term spoil area (LTSA). The approximate original contours (AOC) were modified by
Technical Revision 34, dated November 22, 2002 from CEC to the Division of Minerals and
Geology. Since that time, further refinements of the topographic measurements and volume
calculations has shown there to be a need to prepare a technical revision to these contours to
result in additional overburden material for use in reclamation of the B -Pit and for drainage
design purposes. The remaining and required LTSA overburden volumes are summarized
below:
Current Calculated Remaining Overburden Volume (265,372 bey): The current remaining LTSA
overburden volume was evaluated using the following surfaces: 1) 2008 surface topography of
the LTSA. and 2) LTSA bottom of topsand. The bottom of topsand, or top of final overburden
surface, is fifteen inches below the approximate original contour (AOC) as defined in the facility
permit (Permit No. C-1981-028). The LTSA contains approximately 265,372 bank cubic yards
(hey) of overburden available for reclamation activities.
Current Required LTSA Soil Volume (323,470 bey): The required LISA overburden volume
was evaluated based on the B -Pit final and periodic cover volumes. The required overburden
volume for the final B -Pit cover (6 -feet thick) was evaluated using the following surfaces: I ) B -
Pit top of ash surface and 2) B -Pit bottom of topsand surface. 'lie B -Pit final cover overburden
volume is approximately 217,648 bey. Approximately 9,688 hey of overburden is used annually
as periodic cover in B -Pit based on an average of the recent cover volume usage. It is currently
anticipated that ash disposal operations will continue for another 11.8 years resulting in a
required overburden volume of 105.822 bey for periodic cover. Therefore, the total required
I.TSA soil volume is estimated to be approximately 323,470 bey.
There is a resulting shortfall of approximately 58,098 hey in the volume of soil available versus
the volume of soil required using the contours approved as per Technical Revision 34. In order
to balance the remaining and required LISA overburden volumes. AEC proposes slightly
modifying the AOC in the LISA area as shown on the attached contour map. On average. we
propose an additional 0.88 loot excavation over the LISA area although the actual excavation
6885 South Marshall St., Suite 3, Littleton, CO 80128 phone 303-948-7733 fax 303-948-7739
fir oh.%fro,,Greene/L(I__00Stecfinical rev, .mowlerhnical r errwoi: V!(' letter err 4 1009
Technical Revision to Reclamation Contours
Coors Energy Keenesburg Mine
Pane "1of2
April 7, 2009
will be greater in some areas than others. This contour change will result in a useable LISA
soils volume of approximately 367,400 bcy (a slight excess of LISA soils of 43,930 hey) and is
sufficient to complete the reclamation activities in the B -Pit.
This "technical Revision is consistent with the facility Reclamation Plan (Section 2.05.4 of the
permit) because the LISA area will be returned to its "approximate original contours".
Additionally. the permit reclamation plan states:
"if the long-term spoil pile should become inactive or if both 4- and 13 -Pits were to he
completely reclaimed before the long-term spoil pile could be completely utilized, the
remaining long-term spoil area soils will be graded and tied into the undisturbed natural
terrain, and then scarified, topsanded, fertilized and revegetated."
Based on this approach, AEC has revised the facility Reclamation Contour and Drainage Plan
map (Appendix Q -I of the Permit and Annual Hydrology & Reclamation Report [AHRI). In
general, the attached revised permit drawing (Plate 1) shows the proposed AOC modified from
the currently -permitted AOC in the LISA area to excavate additional soils across the area while
maintaining the drainage patterns to meet the goal of the reclamation plan which is to promote
positive surface water drainage away from both the A- and B -Pits. Plate 2 (for substitution as
Appendix Q-1 in the Permit) is the modified drawing with only the proposed contours. The
revised AOC elevation contours were developed to minimize potential impact to the current
drainage plan and allow drainage from the LISA to the permanent west perimeter ditch and then
to the permanent Sediment Pond 2. The proposed AOC reflects fifteen (15) inches of topsand to
be placed above the overburden as final cover in the LTSA. There are no contour changes over
the B -Pit area.
Thank you and if you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact me at 303-948-
7733.
Respectfully.
AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING, LLC
Curtis . Ahrendsen
Project Manager
Attachments: Revised Reclamation Contour and Drainage Maps (Appendix Q -I )
AEC
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LARGE MAPS AVAILABLE
FOR
VIEWING
AT THE CLERK TO THE BOARD'S
OFFICE, IN THE PUBLIC REVIEW FILE.
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