GENERAL33252

• Permit No: C1982056
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Name: MINING PLAN DECISION DOCUMENT FOIDEL CREEK MINE FEDERAL LEASE COC 53560
• Permit Index Doc Type: GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Once the sale has been held, qualified bidders are evaluated and ranked
by the sales panel which would then make recommendations of acceptance to
the Stets Director. The eucceeeful bidder is then notified of additional
requirements and requested to submit data and information necessary for a
review by the Attorney General. Once the Attorney General has completed
hie review, the lease documents are then transmitted to the eucceeeful
bidder for signature and submission of the bond. The State Director then
makes the decision approving the bond and issuing the lease. Copies of
the decision are then distributed to the BLM District Office, the Office
of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) and the Minerals
Management Service (MMS).
SMCRA gives OSM primary responsibility to administer programs that
regulate surface coal mining operations on federal lands and the surface
effects of underground coal mining operations on federal lands. Pursuant
to Section 503 of SMCRA, the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology
(DMG) developed, and the Secretary of the Interior approved, a permanent
program authorizing DMG to regulate surface coal mining operations and
surface effeete of underground coal mining on nonfederal lands within the
State of Colorado. In September 1982, pursuant to Section 523(c) of
SMCRA, DMG entered into a cooperative agreement with the Secretary of the
Interior, authorizing DMG to regulate surface coal mining operations and
surface effects of underground mining on federal lands within the State.
Pursuant to the cooperative agreement, federal coal lease holders in
Colorado must submit permit application packages to OSM and DMG for
proposed mining and reclamation operations on federal lands in the State.
The DMG reviews the packages to ensure that the permit application
complies with the permitting requirements and that the coal mining
operation will meet the approved permanent program's performance
standards; if it dose comply, DMG issues the lessee a permit to conduct
coal mining operations. The OSM, BLM, and other federal agencies review
the permit application package to ensure that it complies with the terms
of the coal lease; the requirements of the Mineral Leaeing Act of 1920;
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; and other federal laws and
their attendant regulations. The OSM recommends approval, approval with
conditions, or disapproval of the mining plan to the Assistant
Secretary - Land and Minerals Management. Before the mining plan can be
approved, BLM and the surface-managing agency (if other thnn BLM) must
concur with this recommendation.
The DMG enforces the performance etandarde~and permit requirements during
the mine•e operation and hoe primary authority in environmental
emergencies. The OSMRE retains oversight responsibility for this
enforcement. The BLM hoe authority in those emergency situations where
DMG or OSM inspectors cannot act before significant environmental harm or
damage occurs.
The information submitted with and incorporated by reference into the
lease application by CWCC also constitutes formal underground mining
permit revision application PR 92-02 (Cyprus Twentymile Coal Co., 1993).
This environmental analysis addressee the potential impacts that may
occur ae a result of issuance of coal lease COC53560 and approval of this
modification of Nine Permit No. C-82-056. The Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement hee agreed to participate ae a formal
cooperative agency in preparation of this EA.