REV101377 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSINENT RECORD NUMBER: CO-150.00-09 EA CASEFILE/PROJECT NLJMBF,R: COC-53510 PROJECT NAME: Sanborn Creek North Lease Modification F,COREGTON/PLANNTNG UNIT: Uncompahgre Basin Resour~:e Management Plan LEGAL DESCRIPTION: T13S, R90W, 6TM PM, Section 2: Lots l0, 11, and 12 containing approximately 127.79 acres APPLICANT: Oxbow Mining, Inc. PURPOSE AND NEED FOR PROPOSED ACTION: On October 29, 1999, Oxbow Mining, Inc., (Oxbow) filed an application for modification of their existing federal coal lease (Coal Lease No. COC-53510) with the Colorado State Office of [he Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The proposed lease modification addresses lands located in T13S, R90W, 6`" PM, Section 2: Lots 10, 11, and 12 in Gunnison County, containing approximately 127.79 acres and the associated mineable coal reserves contained in the B coal seam. The surface and mineral estate are owned by the United States and managed by the Uncompahgre Field Office of thE: Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The coal lease modification application area is contiguous with the north boundary of federal Coal Lease COC-53510, leased in 1992 and including 1339.56 acrt:s of B and C Seam coal reserves. Map 1 shows the location and configuration of the modification area and its relationship to the existing lease area and Oxbow's active Sanborn Creek mining operations. Oxbow filed [he lease modification application in order avoid a b:~pass of federal coal reserves. The modification would allow extension of the Sanborn Creek Mine longwall panels na the north in the B-Seam to the economic mining limit, providing an estimated 806,400 tons of additional coal reserves. The modification will extend the life of the current operations by 3 to 4 months, resulting in optimizing mine production and coal recovery and avoiding potential bypass of these coal reserves. - SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION: 7'he proposed action is modification of federal Coal Lease COC-53510 to include approximately 127.79 acres of additional lands and the associated B coal seam reserves contiguous to the present nortlrem coal lease boundary. Oxbow, as the current lessee and lease modification applicant, proposes to develop and mine tht: subject additional coal reserve:> from and as an extension of Oxbow's ongoing underground mining operations in the Sanborn Creek Mine. PLAN CONFORMANCE REVIEW: The proposed action is sut~ject to the following plan: Name Q(Plan: Uncompahgre Basin Resource Management Plan Date proved: July 1989 Pagg or Decision Number: Management Unit 7, Page 21 The proposed action has been reviewed for conformance with this plan (43 CFR 1610.5, BLM 1617.3). The land use plan determined that the lands addressed by the proposed coal lease modification application are to be managed for both existing and potential coal development. The subject area is acceptable for coal development and coal development and production could occur withotit significant conflict with other land uses and with a minimum of multiple-use restrictions as described in the RMP. Standards for Public Land Health; The Standazds are addressed in the appropriate Affected Environment and or Environmen[al Consequences sections. Project areas have not yet Keen assessed for all Standards, a full land health assessment for the North Fork landscape unit is expected to be completed in 2 to 4 years. RELATIONSHIP TO STATUTES REGULATIONS OR OTHER PLANS: The coal lease modification application was submitted and is being reviewed and processed under applicable provisions of the Mineral Leasing