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<br /> <br />TO: Board of County Commissioners ~ ~~ <br />FROM: Planning Commission <br />RE: Recommendation, Somerset Mining Co. <br />DATE: December 18, 1990 <br />At the December 7, 1990 Planning Commission, Fred Holbrook <br />moved and Dick Wingerson seconded the following motion: <br />PROJECT <br />Somerset Mining Company, represented by J.M. Stover and <br />Associates, has applied to open new mine portals in the <br />reactivation of a coal mining operation that has been idle since <br />1985; a caretaker has been present onsite during normal working <br />hours and the loading facility has been in use. A conveyor belt <br />would be constructed between existing surface facilities, which <br />includes a rail load-out, and the proposed new mine portals. No <br />coal trucks are required for this operation; however, limited <br />trucking may be necessary to serve the domestic market in the <br />North Fork Valley. During peak production an estimated 100 <br />employees will work three shifts; the proponent anticipates that <br />nearly all of the employees will voluntarily participate in a <br />carpool. The morning shift will begin prior to 7:00 a.m. and, <br />therefore, should eliminate potential conflicts with school <br />buses. <br />The new surface facilities are to be known as the Sanborn <br />Creek Mine; the existing mine is the Somerset Mine, Elk Creek <br />Facilities. The Sanborn facilities will be located approximately <br />4500 feet east of the Elk Creek facilities, in an area previously <br />disturbed by railroad and state highway construction, and which <br />was formerly a residential area. <br />The Sanborn Creek Mine and facilities are within the North <br />Fork of the Gunnison River drainage; no irrigation ditches will <br />be affected by this proposal. Coal Gulch, identified in the <br />proponent's sketch plan as an ephemeral stream, will be <br />undermined by the Sanborn Creek Mine. Sanborn Creek, undermined <br />by previous operations has indicated no interruption or lessening <br />of flow according to the proponent's engineer. <br />Runoff from an area east of Sanborn Creek and west of <br />Sanborn Creek Mine portal area will be collected underground in <br />the mine workings and pumped out of the mine. <br />A permit revision is required by the Mined Land Reclamation <br />Division for this operation. The overall Somerset facilities <br />were in operation prior to the adoption by Gunnison County of the <br />current Land Use Resolution. <br />1 <br />