APPCOR10486

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: Application Correspondence
• Doc Name: NOTICE OF A DECISION AND AVAILABILITY OF A TECHNICAL ANALYSIS INCLUDING AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFC
NOTICE OF A DECISION AND AVAILABILITY
OF A TECHNICAL ANALYSIS INCLUDING AN
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR
MT. GUNNISON N0. 1 MINE
WEST ELK COAL COMPANY
GUNNISON, COLORADO
The United States Department of the Interior, in accordance with the Mineral
Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, and section 523 of the Surface Mining Control and
Reclamation Act of 1977, has approved West Elk Coal Company Inc.'s Mt. Gunnison
No. 1 mine mining plan, as modified, for underground coal mining activities in
Federal leases C-1362, C-0117192, and D-044569. The documentation for the
decision was prepared by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
(OSMRE). Under the Colorado cooperative agreement (30 CFR 906.30), the permitting,
responsibilities for operations on Federal lands is Colorado have been assumed by
the State of Colorado; therefore, the Federal permit, issued on July 12, 1981, was,
not renewed upon approval of the mining plan, as modified.
The Mt. Gunnison No. 1 underground coal mine is located in Gunnison County,
Colorado, approximately 1 mile east of the town of Somerset. The mine has been in
operation since 1981. The permit area associated with the mining plan area
contains approximately 4,240 acres. Mine production will be 2,800,000 tons of
coal per year, and mining is expected to continue for 40 years.
Pursuant to 40 CFR Sections 1501.4(e) and 1506.6, notice is hereby given that '
OSMRE has found that ao significant environmental impacts would result from such
approval based oa an Environmental Assessment prepared by OSMRE and Colorado Mi:.~:
Land Reclamation Division's decision and findings of compliance. Approval of We=:
Elk Coal Company Inc .'s mining plan, as modified, was in accordance with 30 CFR
Part 746. OSMRE's environmental assessment concluded that no significant impacts
to the quality of the human environment would result from such approval;
therefore, an environmental impact statement was not prepared. For information or
clarification concerning the approval of the Mt. Gunnison No. 1 mine mining plan, i
please contact Hel Granberg at [phone], Office of Surface Hiaing ~
Reclamation and Enforcement, Denver, Colorado.
The decision document, including the environmental assessment, is available for
public review at the following locations:
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
Western Field Operations
1020 15th Street
Deaver, Colorado 80202
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
Albuquerque Field Office
625 Silver Avenue S.W.
Suite 310
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102
Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division
423 Centennial Building
1313 Sherman Street
Denver, Colorado 80203-2273