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<br />The permit revision application proposes the mining of approximately 1.8 <br />• million tons of Federal coal within the mining plan approval area. <br />Mining is expected to continue for 30 years on the De serado mine area. <br />Mining operations utilize langwall mining methods. The H and D-Seams of <br />the Lower Williams Fork Formation will be mined at an average production <br />rate of approximately 1.2 million tons per year. <br />This mining operation will not affect any environmentally-sensitive areas. <br />During the review of the permit revision application, no major issues <br />were identified. <br />The May 1986 Mining Plan Approval for the Deserado mine contained, three <br />special Federal conditions. The first condition required surveys for <br />block footed ferrets within one year prior to any disturbance on any <br />Federal lands. This condition will remain as a continuing requirement. <br />The second and third conditions required surveys and mitigation plans for <br />cultural resources in the permit area. WFU has inventoried the <br />previously unsurveyed lands and has submitted and had approved (by OSMRE <br />and SHPO) a mitigation plan dealing with the potential impacts from <br />subsidence on cultural resource sites eligible far the National Register <br />of Historic Places. Refer to the inter-office OSMRE memo dated <br />November 23, 1987, and the SHPO letter to OSMRE dated January 11, 1988, <br />in the "Letters of Concurrence" section of this document. <br />The public was notified of the availability of the permit revision <br />• application for reviex by publication of newspaper notices for four <br />consecutive weeks ending October 15, 1987. No public comments on the <br />permit revision application were received during the 30-day public <br />comment period after the public notice was published. <br />A technical analysis of the proposed mining and reclamation operations <br />was prepared by Colorado MLRD and was included in the documentation <br />provided by Colorado MLRD to OSMRE pursuant to the cooperative <br />agreement. The Envi mnmental Assessment of the proposed mining and <br />reclamation operations and alternatives was prepared by BLM and OSMRE. <br />These documents, other documents prepared by Colorado MLRD, the company's <br />permit revision application, and other correspondence developed during <br />the completeness and technical reviews are part of OSMRE's administrative <br />record. <br />A chronology of events related to the processing of the permit revision <br />application ie included with this memorandum. <br />The BLM recommended approval of the mining plan modification in a letter <br />dated October 21, 1987. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided its <br />biological opinion under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act in a <br />letter dated January 27, 1988. The State Historic Preservation Officer <br />concurred with OSMRE's assessment and recommendations for protection of <br />cultural resources in a letter dated January 11, 1988. <br /> <br />