Laserfiche WebLink
Division staff has consulted with Division of Wildlife (DOW) personnel <br />who are familiar with the area. Both agencies agree that there is little <br />potential for adverse effects of the mine on wildlife since nearly all of <br />the anticipated surface disturbance has occurred and a very limited area <br />is affected. <br />Pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2)(n) and on the basis of available information, <br />the Division finds that the mining activities will not affect the <br />continued existence of endangered or threatened species or result in the <br />destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitats. <br />XIV. Prime Farmland -Rules 2.04.12, 2.06.6, and 4.25 <br />The applicant has provided a discussion pertaining to the existence of <br />prime farmland at McClane Canyon in Section 4.1.2.4 of the application. <br />The Soil Conservation Service has issued a negative determination on the <br />presence of prime farmland within the permit area (see Appendix L, Volume <br />IV of the application). <br />The applicant has satisfactorily demonstrated that no prime farmland <br />exists within the permit area. The division finds the operation in <br />compliance with Rule 2.07.6(2)(k). <br />XU. Operations Description - Rules 2.05.2, 2.05.3(1), 2.05.3(2), and <br />-~C. 0 <br />A description of the general operations plan for the McClane Canyon Mine <br />is given in Section 2.0, Volume I of the application. Following issuance <br />of the initial 3 year permanent program permit, the applicant advanced <br />mining into the graben to determine the feasibility of mining beyond the <br />initial permit term. Operations were temporarily suspended, however, <br />after the second year of mining and have remained under that status up to <br />the present time. <br />The operation is an underground mine removing coal using room and pillar <br />techniques. Total life of the operation will depend on an assessment of <br />recoverability of coal which will be determined as mining progresses. <br />Approximately 123,800 tons of coal was planned to be removed from the <br />mine per year. The total anticipated production was 369,500 tons over <br />the initial three year permit term. Approximately 7.7 acres of surface <br />disturbance has been created by the mining operation thus far. <br />XVI. Backfillin and Gradin -Rules 2.05.3(6)(b), 2.05.4(2)(a), <br />2.05.4 2 c 4.09, 4. 3, an 4. 4 <br />A description of the backfilling plan for the McClane Canyon Mine is <br />presented in Section 3.1 of the application. Because the mine is an <br />underground mine, only a limited area of surface disturbance will require <br />backfilling and grading. <br />-26- <br />