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r -2- February 5, 1980. This approval was completed within the state's mandatory time period. The Routt County Commissioners have not yet approved the application and the MLR approval was contingent upo^ Routt County's approval. Conversations with the Routt County Regional Planning Commission indicated that a recommendation for approval of the application occurred at the planning commission's monthly hearing on February 7, 1980 and based on this recommendation it is anticipated that the Routt County Commissioners will approve the application at their next meeting scheduled for February 25, 1980. The proposed modification involves an extension of mining activities southwest from the presently mined area. The operation vould involve the extraction of coal primarily from the Wadge seam and, vhere economically feasible, from the overlying Lennox seam. The area scheduled for mining is outside the mining boundaries previously approved by the Department. Energy Fuels is requesting variances from contemporaneous reclamation in 2 areas,~a portion of the mine associated with the initial boxcar, because of spoil handling and safety problems and a portion of the mine vhere a proposed underground portal would be located. The first variance is justified from an efficiency and safety standpoint, therefore OSM recommends the variance be granted. The second variance to leave open a portion of highvall is not justified at this time because the applicant has not submitted a plan for deep mining nor made a definite commitment to move forward with deep mining. Therefore this variance is not granted. Special stipulation G14 specifica'_ly addresses this issue. OSM,prepared an environmental assessment (EA) which also addresses the important icpacts of the proposed mining operation. The proposed operation would destroy ar, existing elk calving ground. The applicant proposes to relocate this calving ground onto property adjacent to the permit area owned by Energy Fuels Corporation. OSM's analysis shows that successful relocation of the elk herd may not be possible as the reestablishment of the vegetative eommuni.ty may be a difficult task. The particular soils, vegetation and eater movement in the area appears to be a unique phenomena. It was determined that the destruction of the elk calving ground would have no significant Smpact on the elk population in the area, but may have a possible significant Smpact on the elk herd vintezing in the immediate vicinity of the proposed operation. The significant impacts on the elk population as yell as other adverse impacts that could ensue from the proposed operation have been assessed in the ":lorthvest Colorado Environmental Statement." That impact statement consists of three volumes: a Regional analysis volume, a Site Specific volume and a Supplemental Environmental report. The site specific analysis volume addresses the Energy Fuels Corporation Mining and Reclamation Plan for the Energy Fuels ~1 and ~2 :nines along vith the proposed extension of the !ll mine into the Eckman Park area. OSM does not believe that another EIS is necessary because.OSM has not identified any significant inpacts that vere not already identified and evaluated in the previous EIS.