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<br />Colorado's most significant coal deposits;and mining activities are <br /> <br />~ <br />~ <br />00 <br />00 <br /> <br />in the Upper Colorado River drainage system where the Green River and <br /> <br />Sand Wash structural basins in the northwestern part of the State lead <br /> <br />in both current coal production and total in-place resources. Colorado <br /> <br />coal is of high enough quality to be in demand for steam electric genera- <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />tion and metallurical grade applications. The many underground mines <br /> <br />tend to be small and collectively produce less than the few larger <br /> <br />surface mines. <br /> <br />Most of New Mexico's coal is in the San Juan region in the north- <br /> <br />west corner of the State. The surface mines, which predominate in this <br /> <br />region, produce coals ranging from subbituminous A to high-volatile C <br /> <br />bituminous, none of coking quality. <br /> <br />Two nearby power generating plants <br /> <br />use the coal. <br /> <br />In Utah, most of the coal is in the south-central portion of the <br /> <br />State where most of .the mines are underground. Current production is <br /> <br />about 10 million tons per year. Most coals in Utah range from 9,800 to <br /> <br />.12,600 Btu/ton. Because the mining is underground, coal production <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />costs are relatively high. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Of the Upper Basin States, Wyoming has the largest current and <br /> <br />prospective coal production even though its coal quality is slightly <br /> <br />lower than that of other States, about 9,800 Btu/ton average. Wyoming <br /> <br />is now the largest coal producer in the Rocky Mountains, ranking eighth <br /> <br />in national production. Only part of Wyoming coal is in the Upper <br /> <br />Colorado Basin.. <br /> <br />2-9 <br />