GENERAL33770 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

~. SUMMARY ~.~ OF [If ~i ,i i THE PERMIT REVIEW XISTORY, THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE MINING AND RECLAMATION PLAN Sheridan Enterprises, Inc. applied for a permit under the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act to mine federal coal at the McClane Canyon mine. The Salt Creek Mining Company succeeded to the rights to the permit application. The mine is Zocated in Garfield County, Colorado approximately 20 miles north of Loma on Colorado Highway 139 in sections 15, 16 and 21 of T.7S, R I02W. Coal has been removed from the McClane Canyon site since May, 1977. Sheridan Enterprises, Inc. submitted an application for a new permit on December 12, 1980 pursuant to Section 34-33-109 of the Act. Since that time the application has been under review by the Division and the Office of Surface Mining to determine compliance with the rules and regulations of Che Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board and the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. On March 31, 1981 the Division sent a letter to Sheridan Enterprises, Inc. which identified deficiencies in the application that were noted during the -~ preliminary adequacy review. Resolution of these deficiencies was required in order for the Division to make determinations of whether the applicant will be in compliance with the Act. Sheridan Enterprises, Inc. responded to the comments in a meeting at the Mined Land Reclamation Division on April 17, 1981. Responses to the letter and the meeting were submitted to the Division on May 11 and May 20 and were incorporated into the permits. Further responses were submitted at the time-they were required or completed. Recently Mack Fuel Supply, Inc. a subsidiary of Colorado-Ute Electric Association, Inc. and Loma Mining Company, a subsidiary of Sheridan Enter- prises, Inc., formed a joint venture under the name of Salt Creek Mining Company. Salt Creek Mining Company has become the permit applicant and will be the operator of the McClane Canyon mine for this permit term. 2. Description of the Environment The mine site is located at an elevation of approximately 5800 feet. Land use in the vicinity of the mine is grazing and wildlife habitat. Grazing is generally confined to the lower lying canyon bottom lands. The upland area consists of steep slopes and rugged topography and is primarily used by wildlife. Some irrigated agriculture is practiced in the East Salt Creek Valley which is adjacent to the permit area. McClane Canyon is located in the Roan Cliffs area just north of Grand Valley. This area is northeast of the Garmesa Anticline and on the south flank of the Piceance Basin. Local strata dip to the northeast into the Piceance Basin at approximately 2 degrees. The coal to be mined is within a graben which is bounded by two high-angle faults.