Laserfiche WebLink
! agreement (30 CFR 906.30). Pursuant to the Colorado State <br />program and the cooperative agreement, Colorado MLRD approved the <br />permit revision on June 4, 1992. <br />OSM has consulted with other Federal agencies for compliance with <br />the requirements of applicable Federal laws, and their comments <br />and concurrences are included in the decision document. The <br />resource recovery and protection plan was reviewed by the BLM for <br />compliance with the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, and <br />43 CFR Part 3480, and BLM recommended approval of the mining plan <br />modification in a memo dated July 15, 1992. The U.S. Fish and <br />Wildlife Service provided its final consultation comments under <br />Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act in a memo dated May 22, <br />1992. The State Historic Preservation Officer concurred with <br />OSM's assessment and recommendations for protection of cultural <br />resources in a letter dated October 2, 1991. <br />I have determined that the proposed area of mining plan approval <br />is not unsuitable for mining in accordance with section 522 (b) of <br />SMCRA. <br />The permit revision area is not on any Federal lands within the <br />boundaries of any national forest. <br />OSM has determined that approval of this mining plan modification <br />will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human <br />environment. The impacts of approval of this mining plan <br />modification and alternatives are described in the environmental <br />assessment included with the decision document. <br />The mining plan approval document included in the decision <br />document is in conformance with the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, <br />as amended, and applicable Federal regulations. I recommend that <br />you advise the Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management, <br />under 30 CFR Part 746, that the Colowyo Mine mining plan <br />modification for Federal lease C-29224 is ready for approval. <br />II. Background <br />The Colowyo surface coal mine is located in Moffat County, <br />Colorado, about 28 miles southwest of Craig, Colorado. The mine <br />has been in operation since 1978. About 1,887 acres have been <br />affected by surface disturbance to date. Including the 1,878 <br />acre proposed amendment area, the total permitted area of the <br />Colowyo Mine would contain about 7,403 acres. Mining is expected <br />to continue for 25 years under Colorado Permit No. C-81-019 and <br />the approved mining plan modification. <br />The Colowyo Mine mining plan for Federal lease C-29224 was <br />initially approved on February 24, 1989. Approval of this <br />modification will increase the number of acres in the approved <br />mining plan to 3,392 acres. <br />