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The Routt County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a permit Tuesday that will let Peabody Energy unload coal at its Hayden Gulch facility for the next three years.

That means that Peabody will be able to deliver coal to Xcel Energy's Hayden Power Station, which will lose its primary source of coal when the nearby Seneca coal mine closes this year.

At the end of the three years, or sooner, a long-term solution to the coal delivery dilemma should be in place. County commissioners will consider proposals for a long-term solution March 15.

Before approving the permit, County Commissioner Doug Monger emphasized the short-term nature of the permit.

"We're trying to accomplish a short-term solution to the power plant's fuel source needs," Monger said. He said he would "not support this application in a long-term solution."

County Commissioner Nancy Stahoviak said she would not require that trains have separated grade crossings over Routt County Road 37 or U.S. Highway 40 because this solution is only temporary.

County commissioners added a condition to the permit directing the applicant, Hayden Gulch Terminal Inc., which is owned by Peabody, to work with the Routt County Road and Bridge Department to allow temporary public use of a private haul road that connects Routt County roads 37 and 53. That would allow residents to bypass the railroad crossing at C.R. 37 if a train was there, which otherwise could create a 10-minute delay.

County commissioners also discussed potentially scheduling coal trains and trucks to reduce disturbance to neighbors, but Stahoviak said she thought it was best to see first whether neighbors had any complaints and then attempt to make a schedule if it's necessary.

"Given the unpredictability of when the railroad runs trains, I think that's going to be tough for us to tie down," Stahoviak said.

The permit allows for a haul of 2 million tons of coal a year, most of which would go to the Hayden Station.

Under the permit, trains would access Hayden Gulch, which last was used as a coal loading facility in 1995, from an existing spur off the Union Pacific mainline east of Hayden. The spur crosses U.S. 40 before heading south about 1.3 miles, where it crosses C.R. 37 near the gulch.

The coal would be unloaded, and trucks then would haul coal to the Hayden Station on an existing haul road. Dust mitigation strategies will be used throughout the process, and a landscaping plan will be established to protect residents of the Haven Assisted Living Center from noise and visual effects.

About five trains would use the Hayden Gulch each week. Train crossings would last for three to five minutes on U.S. 40, and from five to 10 minutes on C.R. 37. Two eight-hour shifts will be necessary to haul the coal to the station.

The project still must receive various other permits related to air quality, water and other aspects.

On March 15, the board of commissioners will consider a proposal from Xcel Energy to build a long-term coal delivery system for the Hayden Power Station. On Jan. 20, the Routt County Planning Commission denied a special-use permit for Xcel to build a railroad spur through the Carpenter Ranch and other properties.

-- To reach Susan Cunningham, call 871-4203 or e-mail sbacon@steamboatpilot.com