|
ermit Revision No. 4 was submitted September 5, 2000, and called complete September I5,
<br />2000. The initial adequacy comments were provided to Oxbow Mining on November 9, 2000.
<br />Oxbow Mining responsed to fast adequacy comments June 25, 2001. Some additional
<br />comments were sent from the Division on July 11, 2001, and the Division answered the first
<br />series of adequacy responses on September 11, 2001.
<br />The Division provided additional questions Oct 29, 2001, concerning electronic submittal of
<br />maps in CADD format.
<br />Oxbow responded Nov. 7, 2001, to the questions and the Division replied on November 16,
<br />2001. These questions were answered by Oxbow on Dec. 15, 2001. With unresolved issues
<br />down to just three, the Division responded Jan. 2, 2002. Oxbow submitted their fmal responses
<br />on January 7, 2002. DMG found everything in order and was ready to issue the decision on
<br />January 9, 2002. Because of computer problems with the Department of the Interior, the fmal
<br />AVS check was accomplished on January 16, 2002.
<br />During the review of PR-04, the Division recalculated the reclamation bond liability estimate to
<br />incorporate updated data. The bond was calculated at $3, 356, 540.00. Bond number 10-43-34
<br />was received by the Division for that amount as of November 1, 2001. This bond estimate
<br />included no mining in the Elk Creek lease tract, which was not yet approved.
<br />On September 19, 2001, Oxbow Mining, Inc., initiated the process of transferring the coal
<br />permit from that entity to Oxbow Elk Creek, LLC, and then to Oxbow Mining, LLC. This
<br />transfer of permit (SO-OS) received approval on October 22, 2001 and no comments were
<br />received, so the transfer became effective November 20, 2001.
<br />Description of the Environment
<br />Prior to this PR-04, Sanborn Creek Mine consisted of 92.3 acres of surface disturbed land and
<br />5,693 acres of land which had been undermined and could potentially be affected by mining in
<br />the North Fork of the Gunnison River (North Fork) drainage basin. (See Map 2.05-M 1 for
<br />locations of Sanborn Creek and Elk Creelcmines.) Permit revision No. 4 added 3965 acres to the
<br />permit, bringing the total permitted area to 12,194 acres.
<br />The surface lands within the permit azea include 5,552 acres of privately-owned land and 7,629
<br />acres of federally owned lands (USFS and BLM). The coal reserve owners include Oxbow
<br />Mining, LLC, other private entities and federal agencies.
<br />Surface facilities aze located in the Ells Creek, Beaz Creek, Hubbard Creek and Sanbom Creek
<br />drainages on the north side of the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Mining areas include
<br />workings under the Hubbazd, Elk, Beaz Creek and Coal Gulch drainages. Proposed workings in
<br />the Sanbom Creek East Tract have undermined A, B, C and Hoopla Gulches, Bazdine Canyon,
<br />Hawk's Nest Creek and an unnamed tributary of Thompson Creek. Hubbazd Creek is a perennial
<br />
|