Laserfiche WebLink
then transmitted to the successful bidder for signature and submission <br />of the bond. The State Director then makes the decision approving the <br />bond and is:suinq the lease. Copies of the decision are then <br />distributed to the BLM District Office, the Office of Surface Mining <br />(OSM) and the Minerals Management Service (MMS). <br />SMCRA gives OSM primary responsibility to administer programs that <br />regulate surface coal mining operations on federal lands and the <br />surface effESCts of underground coal mining operations on federal <br />lands. Pursuant to Section 503 of SMCRA, the Colorado Division of <br />Minerals and Geology (CDMG) developed, and the Secretary of the <br />Interior approved, a permanent program authorizing CDMG to regulate: <br />surface <:oal mini.nq operations and surface effects of underground coal <br />mining on non-federal lands within the State of Colorado. In <br />September' 1982, pursuant to Section 523(c) of SMCRA, CDMG entered into <br />a cooperative agreement with the Secretary of the Interior authorizing <br />CDMG to regulate surface coal mining operations and surface effects of <br />underground ;mining on federal lands within the state. <br />Pursuant to +the cooperative agreement, federal coal lease holders inn <br />Colorado music submit permit application packages to OSM and CDMG for <br />proposed min:[nq and reclamation operations on federal lands in the <br />State. T.he c:DMG reviews the packages to ensure that the permit <br />application complies with the permitting requirements and that the <br />coal mining operation will meet the approved permanent program's <br />performance standards; if it does comply, CDMG issues the lessee a <br />permit to conduct coal mining operations. The OSM, BLM, and other <br />federal agencies review the permit application package to ensure that <br />it complies with the terms of the coal lease; the requirements of the <br />Mineral Leasing Act of 1920; the National Environmental Policy Act of <br />1969; and other federal laws and their attendant regulations. The OSM <br />recommends approval, approval with conditions, or disapproval of the <br />mining plan to the Assistant Secretary - Land and Minerals Management. <br />Before the mining plan can be approved, BLM and the surface-managing <br />agency (if' other than BLM) must concur with this recommendation. <br />The CDMG enforces the performance standards and permit requirements <br />during the mine's operation and has primary authority in environmental <br />emergencies. The OSM retains overnight responsibility for this <br />enforcement. The BLM has authority in those emergency situations <br />where CDMG or OSM inspectors cannot act before significant <br />environmental harm or damage occurs. <br />The information submitted in the coal lease application by Mountain <br />Coal Company does not constitute a formal underground mining permit <br />application. It has been used in order to develop an impact analysis. <br />Its use is intended to illustrate one possible plan for developing <br />federal coal reserves on this tract and does not imply that Mountain <br />Coal Company would be given any preference in the event that a lease <br />sale is held. In addition, it does not imply that the mining permit <br />application developed from these preliminary plans would comply with <br />the requlat:ions or be approved by the Colorado Division of Minerals <br />and Geology if a lease sale were held and Mountain Coal Company <br />obtained the lease: Any plan which is ultimately submitted must <br />comply with a1.I applicable state and federal regulations as described <br />above before i+t can be approved. <br />Page 3 <br />