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<br />~' <br />-z- <br />Stipulation: <br />THE DIVISION DIRECTS BLUE RIBBON COAL C0FIPANY TO SUBMIT AN ACCEFTAB LE <br />REQUEST FOR VARIANCE FROM APPROXIIdATE ORSGINAL CONTOUR RESTORATION <br />REQUIREMENTS FOR STEEP SLOPE P17NING, DEl90NSTRATZNG COMPLIANCE WITH <br />THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 2.06.5. THIS ACCEPTABLE REQUEST SHALL BE <br />SUBMITTED TO THE DIVISION WITHIN 30 DAYS FOLLOWING APPROVAL OF THE <br />PERMIT. <br />FURTHER, AS C0MAIITTED TO WITHIN THE AMENDED APPLICATION, THE APPLICANT <br />SHALL SUBAfIT AN ACCEPTABLE STABILITY ANA LYS iS OF THE PROPOSED BACK- <br />FILL CONFIGURATION, INCLUDING AN APPROPRIATE AfATERIAL SHEAR STRENGTH <br />TESTING REPORT. THIS STABILITY ANALYSIS SHALL DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE <br />WITH THE STATIC SLOPE SAFETY FACTOR REQUIREI9ENT5 OF RULE 9.27.4(1). <br />THIS ACCEPTABLE STABILITY ANALYSIS SHALL BE SUB1dI TIED TO THE <br />DIVISION WITHIN 6 MONTHS FOLLOWING APPROVAL OF THE PERMIT. <br />With the imposition of this stipulation, the application satisfies the requirements <br />of these'sections of the regulations. <br />XXVI. Miscellaneous Compliance (2.05.6(5), 4.02, 4.12, 9.19, 4.2I,_ 9.23, 4.30) <br />(NO CHANGES NECESSARY) <br />XXVIII. Compatibility with Anticipated Adjacent Operations (2.07.6(2)(1)) <br />The Blue Ribbon mine is removing the E seam, or Hawk's Nest seam, of the Williams <br />Fork formation. Other operations c/ithin the same general locale are the U.S. <br />Steel Somerset mine, the Colorado Westmoreland, Inc.'s Orchard Valley mine, the <br />Western Slope Carbon Inc.'s Hawk's Nest mine, the Bear Coal Company's Bear mine <br />and the Anaconda Plinerals' Mt. Gunnison No. I mine. The permitted and proposed <br />operations of all of these mines, except the U.S. Steel Somerset mine, are from <br />1 to several miles distant from the Blue Ribbon mine operations. <br />U.S. Steel Corporation is mining the B seam, approximately 450 feet below the <br />Blue Ribbon mine operations. By agreement between the two corpora ti ens, U.S. Steel <br />is precluding extraction of additional coal beneath the Blue Ribbon mine's under- <br />ground workings, during the life of the Blue Ribbon operation. Because there is <br />a massive sandstone member between the two affected seams, it is unlikely that <br />the Blue Ribbon operation would affect operations within the Somerset mine. No <br />problems due to the operation of the Blue Ribbon mine are expected within any of <br />the more distant operations within the local area. <br />In many ways, the concentration of coal mining in the North Fork Valley assists <br />alI of the operations by providing a Large labor pool, local vocational training, <br />improved coal transportation systems and other support services within the <br />community. <br />Pursuant to Section 2.07.6(2)(1) of our regulations, the Division finds that the <br />proposed operations at the Blue Ribbon mine will not be incompatible with other <br />coal mining operations anticipated to be performed within areas adjacent to the <br />proposed permit area. The application is in compliance with the requirements of <br />this section of the regulations. <br />