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<br />BEAR MINE REQUESTED VARIANCES <br />The applicant has requested a variance from the 100-foot stream <br />buffer zone requirement. Prior to the North Fork of the Gunnison <br />channel relocation proposed by the State Highway Department, por- <br />tions of the haul road and sediment pond will be approximately 100 <br />ft. from the river bank. Following the channel relocation, a 10- <br />ft buffer zone will be established. According to 817.57 OSM finds: <br />1) The original stream channel will not be affected by the appli- <br />cant; 2) During and after mining, all drainage from disturbed areas <br />will pass through a sediment pond prior to discharge to the river. <br />Thereby, not affecting the water quality or quantity. <br />Bear Coal Company has requested a variance from the approximate <br />original contour requirements because of steep slope mining condi- <br />tions on the south side of the North Fork. A number of alternative <br />portal stabilization techniques and backfilling plans were proposed. <br />The accepted plan calls for a partial backfill of the face-up cut to <br />an elevation roughly half that of the existing highwall. The appro- <br />priate geotechnical analysis has been.dane to show that the configu- <br />ration is stable. <br />• The proposed Bear No. 3 Mine is located within 300 feet of several <br />occupied dwellings in Somerset, Colorado. The residents of Somerset <br />signed a consent form stating that they had no objections to the re- <br />opening of the old Edwards Mine by Bear Coal Company. <br />• <br />