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_~_ - ~~~ The coal is part of the Cameo seam, a widely mined, low sulfur, low ash, high BTU bituminous coal. The Cameo seam dips to the northeast into the Piceance Creek Basin at approximately two degrees. Currently the mine is operating un- der a USGS exploration plan approved December 1976 to further delineate their property since the area is clearly cut by a large graben that has displaced the seam at least 70 feet on the eastern edo and up to 100 feet on the wes- tern edge. The company does not know the extent of the recoverable coal until the limbs of the graben are intersected. It will depend upon economics at that point. T'ne mine loadout is located at the railroad siding at Loma, Colorado some 20 miles south of the mine site. It is planned to permit the loadout facility with the Mining and Reclamation plan oa the adjacent Munger Canyon Yline. In- formation regarding the loadout is found is the Salt Creek Miaiag Company's hunger Canyon permit application presently under review by C."SLRD and OSE1. A chronology of events is enclosed denoting dates and descriptions of pertin- ent events regarding the PfcClane Canyon Mine. The picClane Mine's mining plan was reviewed by OSM using the Colorado State Program and the Federal Lands program (30 CFR Chapter VII, Subchapter D). The Mineral Leasing Act portion of the ?IItP was also reviewed for. compliance with the applicable portions of 30 CFR Part 211 (i.e., requirements and responsibilities of the Geological Survey under the Mineral Leasing Act). The CPILRD and O5ii developed the stipulations which must be accepted by the applicant prior to issuance of a permit. These stipulations will become as integral part of the McClane Mine's mining and re- clamation permit. The Geological Survey provided written concurrence with the proposed action on Sune 30, 1981. The Bureau of Land Management gave verbal concurrence on 3/11/82 and said it vas sufficient and a letter would be forthcoming. The - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service vas consulted regarding threatened and endan- gered species and provided opinions in their October 8, 1981 letter. The State }listoric Preservation Officer concurred with OSM's proposed compliance with 36 CFR Part 80 on August 14, 1981. A copy of each letter of concurrence is our files 1s enclosed. The TEA, other documents prepared by G'II,RD, the company's application, and correspondence developed during the completeness review and technical and en- vironmental analysis are part of the mining and reclamation plan file. A State Notice of Proposed Decision has been published in the Daily Sentinel and is enclosed. This mine, and the significant effects of the proposed mining and reclamation operations, have been addressed in the Department's Environ- mental Impact Statement entitled West-Central Colorado Coal Environmental Statement, issued in February 1979. As attested to in these documents, I have determined that this action will not have a significant impact on the human environment. Based on this review, and as reflected in the attached recommendation package, I recommend that you find that Salt Creek :lining Company's permit application affirmatively demonstrates that the conditions outlined in the Findings en- closed have been complied with and that you recommend approval for the `1cClane L- Canyon mining and reclamation plan.