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CONSERVATION GROUPS’ COMMENTS <br />UNCOMPAHGRE FIELD OFFICE RMP AND DEIS <br />58 <br />D. The Draft EIS Relies on Outdated Coal Production and Employment Data. <br /> <br />Since 2010, much has changed in national and international coal markets in general, and <br />to mines in the North Fork Valley in particular. Some of the most significant local developments <br />include: <br /> <br />• the closure of the Elk Creek mine in 2013, its demolition in 2016, and the layoff <br />of virtually all of its employees;194 <br />• the idling of the Bowie No. 2 mine in February 2016, and the layoff of most of its <br />employees;195 <br />• layoffs and production declines at the West Elk mine in 2016;196 and <br />• the announcement that the Nucla coal mine, and the power station it serves, will <br />close in 2022.197 <br /> <br />As a result of these changes, and changes in the coal market more broadly, employment <br />and production in the Somerset coal field has fallen dramatically since 2010: <br /> <br />Coal Production and Employment, Somerset Coal Field and Colorado, 2010 and 2016^ <br /> Coal <br />production, <br />Somerset coal <br />field mines <br />(million tons) <br />Coal <br />production, <br />Colorado <br />(million <br />tons) <br />% of total <br />Colorado <br />coal <br />production <br />from <br />Somerset <br />coal mines <br />Coal <br />employment, <br />Somerset coal <br />field* <br />Coal <br />employment, <br />Colorado <br />% of total <br />Colorado coal <br />employment <br />from Somerset <br />coal mines <br />2010 9.96 25.21 39.5% 923 2,041 45.2% <br />2016 <br />(through <br />Sept.) <br />2.49 8.78 196 1,228 16.0% <br />2016 <br />(annualized) <br />3.32 11.71 28.2% 196 <br />^ All coal production and employment figures derived from Colorado Division of Reclamation, <br />Mining and Safety website (http://mining.state.co.us/Reports/Reports/Pages/Coal.aspx). <br />* Employment figures are calculated from the last reported date of the period: Dec. 2010 for <br />2010, and September 2016 for this year. <br /> 194 D. Webb, Oxbow shifts to permanent shutdown of Elk Creek Mine, Grand Junction Sentinel <br />(April 30, 3016), available at: http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/oxbow-shifts-to- <br />permanent-shutdown-of-elk-creek-mi (attached as Exhibit 101). 195 D. Webb, Bowie idles Paonia mine, Grand Junction Sentinel (Feb. 26, 2016), available at: <br />http://www.gjsentinel.com/breaking/articles/bowie-idles-paonia-mine (attached as Exhibit 102). 196 D. Webb, West Elk Mine undergoes layoffs, Grand Junction Sentinel (June 2, 2016), <br />available at: http://www.gjsentinel.com/breaking/articles/ west-elk-mine-undergoes-layoffs <br />(attached as Exhibit 103). 197 G. Harmon, Power station slated to close; coal mine will shut down in 2022, Grand Junction <br />Sentinel (Sep. 1, 2016), available at: http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/2-power-stations- <br />slated-to-close-coal-mine-will-sh (attached as Exhibit 104).