Application for Phase III Bond Release
Deer Creek Mine Rilda Canyon Left Fork Portal Facility
C/015/0018
PacifiCorp Interwest Mining Company
P.O. Box 310
Huntington, Utah 84528
PacifiCorp, by and through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Interwest Mining Company (“Interwest”), has filed with the Division of Oil, Gas and Mining an application for Phase III Bond Release for 2.33 acres of the Deer Creek mine site.
On July 2, 2018, United States Forest Service, as the Federal land management agency (FLMA), requested a post-mining land use change to the reclamation plan in accordance with 30 CFR 740.4 (c) (2) to include a debris catchment basin for the protection of municipal water supplies downstream from the Left Fork Rilda Portal reclamation site. All areas for bond release have met the regulations of the R645 Utah Coal Rules in regards to the Post Land Use Change standards for Phase III Bond Release ( refer to R645-301-880.300). The entire Left Fork mine site and access road area is proposed for release. The locations of the areas are as follows:
Deer Creek Mine Rilda Canyon Left Fork Facility
Legal Description, NE¼SW¼ and NW¼SE¼ Section 29, T16S, R7E, SLB&M
PacifiCorp decommissioned the Deer Creek Mine in December of 2017:
• Permanent high-strength concrete seals were constructed in the Left Fork portals:
o Intake Portal 12/19/2017
o Fan Portal 12/20/2017
• Demolition of the surface structures completed 2/2018
• Backfilled the intake and return portals with 25’ of non-combustible fill – 2/2018
• MSHA approved sealing of the Left Fork portals February 2018 – mine declared “abandoned”
PacifiCorp currently maintains a $3,374,000 surety bond for the Deer Creek Mine payable to the Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining. PacifiCorp is requesting reclamation liability release for Rilda Canyon Left Fork Facilities and will maintain the current surety bond of $3,374,000. A renewed mining permit was issued by the State and became effective on February 7, 2016.
A copy of the Phase III application may be examined at the office of the Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, 1594 West North Temple, Suite 1210, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-5801 and also at the Recorders Office located in the Emery County Courthouse in Castle Dale, Utah. Written comments, objections, or requests for an informal conference may be submitted to the Salt Lake City address. Said comments must be submitted thirty (30) days from the date of the last publication of this notice. This notice is being published to comply with the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, and State and Federal regulations promulgated pursuant to said Act.
Published in the ETV News Progress for four consecutive weeks beginning with the acceptance of the Phase III application.