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1~vo mining requests ~~ <br />go before county planners <br />Marlja B. Varier <br />Staff Writer <br />The Gunnison County Planning Commission <br />again discussed two mining requests at its <br />meeting Feb. 18. The mines are both located in <br />the Somerset area, and representatives from both <br />companies made the long trek to the county seat <br />to attend the meeting. <br />The Mountain Coal Company <br />MThe Mountain Coal Company would like to <br />change its method of mining =from pillar mining <br />to long wall mining. In pillar mining, pillars from <br />the mountain are left to keep the mountain from <br />caving in. In long wall mining, structures are <br />brought in to keep the earth from caving. <br />Kathy Welt, environmental specialist for the <br />Mountain Coal Company, must first contact the <br />stale mining board and get a permit for the <br />change. Then, she will contact the manly to set <br />up a public hearing. <br />What's throwing a monkey wrench in this is <br />that the mine is under Minnesota Creek, the site <br />of a great deal of publicity 10 to 15 years ago. <br />Welt said the company is ready with culverts if <br />water begins seeping into the mining area. <br />According to Planning Commission Chair Don <br />Crosby, the problem isn't what it once was, and <br />the mine company has kept good records since <br />then, so it shouldn't be a problem. <br />"lf there is a crack that puts water from the <br />stream to the mine, we can pump it out and <br />discharge it at the creek;' said Mountain Coal <br />Company attorney Scott Anderson. "but that's <br />The mines are both <br />located in the <br />Somerset area. <br />unlikely." <br />Gene DiClaudio, president of Mountain Coal, <br />said the production will remain relatively level, <br />although the company is also asking (or an <br />increased mining area. <br />"The days 6f bringing on another 1f)u people <br />are gone;' Welt said. <br />Although production will remain relatively <br />consistent, the company will increase the number <br />of trains coming down the valley Each train can <br />carry ]0,(100 tons of coal, and in January, the coal <br />company said it shipped 400,000 tons. Engineer <br />Phil Schmidt said the availability of trains is <br />more of a problem than the strain on the tracks. <br />County Planner Joanne Williams said she has <br />not received any negative calls about the train <br />traffic. <br />"Some people are very happy to sm the trains <br />come down the valley," Welt said. <br />"No offense, but 1'd like to see sommne else <br />(the state) tell us what you're telling us," <br />commented Planning Commissioner Fred <br />Holbrook. <br />See Mt on 6 <br />• _ _ _. <br />Ines <br />inued from 1 <br />Bear Coal Company <br />ne planning commission <br />its public hearing on the <br />ges proposed by the Bear <br />Company, also from <br />Somerset. The company would <br />like to increase the time and <br />space of their mining permit. <br />Because of bad coal reserves, <br />the company had decreased the <br />amount of time from.its original <br />request of 48 months to 28 <br />months. Also, the mine would <br />like to "grow' underground. <br />The only point of contention <br />was two springs located near the <br />edge of the mine. Jim $tOV~'r of <br />the Bear Coal Company said the <br />springs are "barely a seep" at <br />two galloris per minute, and that <br />the company will continue to <br />monitor their production so they <br />are not disturbed. <br />The.rcquests~of Bcar were <br />approved unanimously by the <br />planning commission. <br />db(~r~r /y~y <br />GUNNISON COUNTRY TIMES <br />Gunnison, CO <br />(Gunnison County) <br />Wed, 3,8613 <br />