GENERAL36114

• Permit No: C1980004
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 11/29/1990
• Doc Name: NOMINATION OF THE MCCLANE CYN MINE FN C-80-004 FOR THE MLRD SMALL UNDERGROUND MINE AWARD
• From: MLRD
• To: DAN
• Permit Index Doc Type: GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

MINED LAND RECLAMATION DIVlS10N
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St.. Room 215
Denver, CO 80203
303 866-3567
FAx: [phone]
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STATE OF COLORADO
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Roy Romer,
MEMO Governor
Fred R. Banta,
Division Director
DATE: November 29, 1990
TO: Dan
FROM: Randy i-1
RE: Nomination of the McClane Canyon Mine (File# C-80-004) for the MLRD Small
Underground Mine Award
I would like to nominate the McClane Canyon Mine for the the MLRD small underground
coal mine award. This mine is operated by the Salt Creek Mining Company and is
located close to the Utah border 19 miles north of the town of Loma. Production at
,r the mine averages below tons of coal per year.
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The the Salt Creek Mining Company has operated the mine in a manner that is
exemplary. Not only is the mine well maintained, John Walters, engineer and
permitting contact, anticipates potential problems before they can occur and makes
appropriate changes to the mine plan. The mine has been designed to require minimal
maintenance. As an example, the sediment control system is designed to minimize the
amount sediment reaching the pond through the use of sediment settling sumps that
are easier to access and clean. Although this technique is used by other mines in
the state the McClane Canyon Mine was one of the first, and was a model for one of
the large surface mines in the state.
With permitting issues, this mine takes the same care in making sure that problems
will not occur. This mine doesn't hesitate to make revisions to the mine plan to
improve its efficiency and to minimize environmental impacts. The mine communicates
freely with the Division on permitting matters and will call the Division to ask
advice concerning revisions that they would like to submit. This prior communication
assures that the Division will receive a complete revision that will have minimal
adequacy concerns.
Although MLRD regulations do not require coal mines to minimize visual impacts, this
mine took the initiative and planted Cottonwood trees as a visual buffer between the
office area and the highway. This action exemplifies this mines concern for
minimizing the impact to the environment.
As a small mine in difficult economic times, this mine sets a good example for other
small mines in its ability to minimize impacts to the environment, maintain a
healthy permit application and be an economically viable mine.