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h <br />• • ~ • • <br />-2 <br />Stipulation: <br />THE DIVISION DIRECTS BLUE RIBBON COAL COMPANY TO SUBMIT AN ACCEPTABLE <br />REQUEST FOR VARIANCE FROM APPROXIMATE ORIGINAL CONTOUR RESTORATION <br />REQUIREMENTS FOR STEEP SLOPE MINING, DEMONSTRATING COMPLIANCE WITH <br />THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 2.06.5. THIS ACCEPTABLE REQUEST SHALL BE <br />SUBMITTED TO THE DIVISION WITHIN 30 DAYS FOLLOWING APPROVAL OF THE <br />PERMIT. <br />FURTHER, AS COMMITTED TO WITHIN THE AMENDED APPLICATION, THE APPLICANT <br />SHALL SUBMIT RN ACCEPTABLE STABILITY ANALYSIS OF THE PROPOSED BRCK- <br />FILL CONFIGURATION, INCLUDING AN APPROPRIATE MATERIAL SHEAR STRENGTH <br />TESTING REPORT. THIS STABILITY ANALYSIS SHALL DEMONSTRATE COMPLIANCE <br />WITH THE STATIC SLOPE SAFETY FACTOR REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 4.27.4(1). <br />THIS ACCEPTABLE STABILITY ANALYSIS SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE <br />DIVISION WITHIN 6 MONTHS FOLLOWING APPROVAL OF THE PERMIT. <br />With the imposition of this stipulation, the application satisfies the requirements <br />of these sections of the regulations. <br />XXVI. Miscellaneous Compliance (2.05.6(5), 4.02, 4.12, 4.19, 4.21, 4.28, 4.30) <br />(NO CHANGES NECESSARY) <br />XXVIII. Compatibility with Anticipated Adjacent Operations (2.07.6(2)(1)) <br />The Blue Ribbon mine is removing the E seam, or Hawk's Nest seam, of the Williams <br />Fork formation. Other operations within the same general Locale are the U.S. <br />Steel Somerset mine, the Colorado Westmoreland, In c. 's Orchard Valley mine, the <br />Western Slope Carbon Inc.'s Hawk's Nest mine, the Bear Coal Company's Bear mine <br />and the Anaconda Minerals' Mt. Gunnison No. 1 mine. The permitted and proposed <br />operations of all of these mines, except the U.S. Ste e1 Somerset mine, are from <br />1 to several miles distant from the Blue Ribbon mine operations. <br />U.S. Steel Corporation is mining the B seam, approximately 450 feet below the <br />Blue Ribbon mine operations. By agreement between the two corporations, U.S. Steel <br />is precluding extraction of additional coal beneath the Blue Ribbon mine's under <br />ground workings, during the Life of the Blue Ribbon operation. Because there is <br />a massive sandstone member between the two affected seams, it is unlikely that <br />the Blue Ribbon operation would affect operations within the Somerset mine. No <br />problems due to the operation of the Blue Ribbon mine are expected within any of <br />the more distant operations within the Local area. <br />In many ways, the concentration of coal mining in the North Fork Valley assists <br />all of the operations by providing a large labor pool, local vocational training, <br />improved coal transportation systems and other support services within the <br />community. <br />Pursuant to Section 2.07.6(2)(i).of our regulations, the Division finds that the <br />proposed operations at the Blue Ribbon mine will not be incompatible with other <br />coal mining operations anticipated to be performed within areas adjacent to the <br />proposed permit area. The application is in compliance with the requirements of <br />this section of the regulations. <br />