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<br />• ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT <br />Proposed Mine Expansion <br />Energy Manes 1 and 2 and the Eckman Park Area <br />Proposed Action <br />The U. S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is <br />recommending approval with stipulations of the mining expansion proposed by <br />Energy Fuels Corporation for Energy Mines 1 and 2 and the Eckman Park area. <br />The mines are located 25 miles southwest of Steamboat Springs in Routt County, <br />Colorado (figure 1). OSMs recommendation is in accordance with the initial <br />program regulations (30 CFR 211 and 710) implementing the Surface Mining <br />Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) of 1977 and conditions of the leases. The <br />plan has also been reviewed and found in compliance with the performance <br />standard requirements of the permanent program regulations pertaining to <br />Federal lands, with the exception of the standards for contemporaneous <br />reclamation (30 CFR 816.100). <br />Purpose of and Need for Action <br />The Department of the Interior has received a mining and reclamation plan for <br />• Federal coal lands that proposes to extend mining from Energy Mine 1 into the <br />Eckman Park area (new lease area). In addition to proposing an expanded <br />mining operation, the plan updates a previously approved plan on Energy Mines <br />1 and 2 in order to meet the requirements of SMCRA and regulations pursuant to <br />SMCRA. Energy Fuels will ship the coal by unit train to Public Service <br />Company of Colorado and Illinois Power Company under existing contracts. <br />Background <br />Energy Coal Company began surface-mining operations at the Energy 1 Mine in <br />1962 (Federal coal lease D-052507). In 1972, Energy Fuels Corporation, the <br />new owner, opened Energy Mine 2, and in 1975, the company opened Energy Mine 3 <br />(no Federal coal). In 1975, 1977, 1978, and 1979 the Department approved <br />additional mining of Federal coal (Federal leases C-16284, C-0128433, <br />C-081330, C-20900, C-22644, and D-052547). The U.S. Buteau of Land Management <br />(BLM) analyzed the environmental SmpacCs of mining on these leases in its <br />environmental impact statement (EIS), Northwest Colorado Coal (FES 77-1, Jan. <br />1977) and supplemental environmental report (Dec. 1978). The operation has <br />been producing over 3 million tons per year of high quality, low-sulfur steam <br />coal since 1976. Surface owners of the land in the Energy mines complex are <br />private, State, and Federal Government. <br />• <br />