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MIDTERM REVIEW <br /> West Elk Mine <br /> Permit No. C-80-007 <br /> This document presents the results of the Division of Minerals and Geology (Division) <br /> Midterm Review of the Mountain Coal Company, West Elk Mine. This Midterm Review <br /> was conducted to fulfill the requirements of Rules 2.08.3, 2.06.2(10), 2.06.3(4), <br /> 2.06.5(3), 2.06.7(5) and 3.02.2(4). <br /> Pursuant to Rule 2.08.3, the Division is required to review the permit during the permit <br /> term, and should not occur later than the middle of the permit term. Based on this review, <br /> for good cause shown, the Division may require reasonable revisions or modifications of <br /> the permit provisions to ensure compliance with the Act and Regulations. <br /> Rules 2.06.200), 2.06.3(4), 2.06.5(3) and 2.06.7(5) which detail Experimental Practices <br /> Mining, Mountaintop Removal Mining, Variances from Approximate Original Contour <br /> Restoration Requirements for Steep Slope Mining, and Variances for Delay in <br /> Contemporaneous Reclamation Requirements in Combined Surface and Underground <br /> Mining Operations, respectively, require that the Division review these practices or <br /> variances at some point during the permit term. <br /> Rule 3.02.2(4) requires the Division to review the amount of the bond required at the time <br /> permit reviews are conducted under 2.08.3 or every two and one-half years, whichever is <br /> more frequent. <br /> The Midterm Review consisted of a detailed review of the West Elk Mine permit <br /> application and Findings Document to identify any items that may have been overlooked <br /> during the initial review. The Division also reviewed all subsequent revisions and <br /> stipulation responses to ensure that all permit commitments and conditions were being <br /> followed. The reclamation estimate was also reviewed to confirm that all reclamation <br /> tasks had been included in the estimate. Problems and observations from past inspection <br /> reports were also considered. <br /> SECTION I - HISTORY <br /> The West Elk Mine, operated by Mountain Coal Company (MCC), is located approximately <br /> one mile east of the town of Somerset on Colorado State Highway No. 133. Operations at <br /> the West Elk Mine have been conducted under several different names in the past. Before <br /> 1991, the West Elk Mine itself was know as the Mt. Gunnison No. 1 Mine. Since the <br /> mine opened, operations were conducted under the following names: Anaconda Minerals <br /> Company, ARCO Coal Company (a division of Atlantic Richfield Company), and West Elk <br /> Coal Company, Inc. <br /> MCC applied on November 6, 1979 for a permit to conduct underground mining and <br /> reclamation operations. The first five-year permit was issued on July 31 , 1981 . The <br /> permit expired on July 31, 1986 and a complete application was received on <br /> January 17, 1986. The permit was renewed on May 19, 1987 and expired on <br /> August 1 , 1991 . The Division received MCC's complete renewal application on <br />