APPCOR13177

• Permit No: C1981071
• IBM Index Class Name: Application Correspondence
• Doc Date: 12/20/1985
• Doc Name: MEMO RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL OF COLO YAMPA COAL CO ENERGY 1 ENERGY 2 & ECKMAN PARK MINES
• From: OSM
• To: OSM
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

• The 30-sore revision area in Federal lease C-26914 that is being added to
the approved mining plan area was included in the analyses for a 1983
technical revision to the 1980 permanent program permit and mining plan
approval. The intent at that time was that Energy Fuels Corporation
(CYCC's name at that time) would acquire Federal lease C-26914 before the
application was processed by OSMRE. Energy Fuels (CYCC) was unable to
acquire the lease and the 30-acre area was deleted from the permit area.
However, the reviews, analyses and findings, xith the exception of the
right-of-entry finding, necessary to assure compliance with SMCRA xere
made for the 30-acre area. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) prepared
an environmental assessment (EA) on December 3, 1984 for the emergency
leasing of Federal lease C-26914 to CYCC. The lease was effective May 1,
1985. OSMRE has reviewed the BLM EA and concurs with its analysis. The
BLM EA and the EA prepared by OSMRE in 1980 for the approval of the
mining plan and permit application adequately address the environmental
impacts of approval of the mining plan, as modified.
Under this approval, mining is anticipated to proceed until 1988. I am
recommending approval for the area to be mined over the life of the
Energy No. 1, Energy No. 2 and Eckman Park mines based on the
environmental assessment and the adequacy of the data and information
provided by Colorado Yampa Coal Company in the PAP.
The surface mining operations principally utilize dragline mining
methods. The Lennox and Wedge coal seams are mined at a production rate
of approximately 3.9 million tone per year. All mining operations are
scheduled to cease around the year 1988. This mining operation will not
affect any environmentally-sensitive areas.
During the review of the PAP no major issues were identified.
The public was notified of the availability of the PAP for review by
publication of four newspaper notices for ending September 5, 1985. No
public comments on the PAP were received after the public notice was
published.
An addendum to OSMRE's February 1980 technical analysis of the proposed
mining and reclamation operations was prepared by Colorado MLRD and was
included in the documentation provided by Colorado MLRD to OSMRE pursuant
to the cooperative agreement. The environmental assessment of the
proposed action and. alternatives was prepared by OSMRE and BLM. These
documents, other documents prepared by Colorado MLRD, the company's PAP,
and other correspondence developed during the completeness and technical
reviews are part of OSMRE's administrative record.
A chronology of events related to the processing of the PAP is included
with this memorandum.
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