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Introduction
<br />This document is the decision package prepazed by the Colorado Division of Minerals and
<br />Geology (Division) for the West Elk Mine, Permit Revision No. 10 (PR-10). This document
<br />includes: 1) the proposed decision to approve the permit revision application; 2) a summary
<br />which includes a history of the review of the permit application, a description of the environment
<br />affected by the operation and a description of the mining and reclamation plan; and 3) the written
<br />findings of compliance the Division has made as required by the Colorado Surface Coal Mining
<br />Reclamation Act. Detailed information concerning the findings of compliance can be found in
<br />the Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Boazd for Coal Mining.
<br />The Division received an application for PR-10 from Mountain Coal Company (MCC), the
<br />operator of the West Elk Mine. The mine permit area encompasses approximately 15,638 acres
<br />on federal and private lands within Gunnison and Delta Counties, Colorado, including 5,250
<br />acres proposed for addition in PR-10. The legal description of the lands included within the
<br />permit area include all or portions of: Sections 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21,
<br />22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36, Township 13 South, Range 90 West
<br />of the 6`h P.M., Sections 23, 24, 25 and 26, Township 13 South, Range 91 West of the 6`h P.M,
<br />and Sections 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, and 11, Township 14 South, Range 90 West of the 6`h P.M. The
<br />location of the above (ands can be found on the USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangle maps of Bowie
<br />and Somerset.
<br />Proposed Decision
<br />The Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology proposes to approve the application for Permit
<br />Revision 10. This decision is based on a finding that the operations will comply with all
<br />requirements of the Colorado State Program as found in the Colorado Surface Coal Mining
<br />Reclamation Act, C.R.S. 34-33-101 et seq., and the Regulations promulgated pursuant to the Act.
<br />[f no request for a formal hearing is made within thirty (30) days of the first publication of the
<br />issuance of this proposed decision, then this decision becomes final. Upon submittal of
<br />acceptable surety by MCC, the permit will be issued. The permit application, all supporting
<br />documentation and any stipulations or conditions will become a binding part of the permit.
<br />A list of outstanding stipulations is included below. These stipulations are conditions of the
<br />permit prior to PR-10.
<br />Stipulation No. 1
<br />NO MINING IS ALLOWED WITHIN THE MINNESOTA CREEK BASIN UNTIL AN APPROVED
<br />AD]UDICATION PLAN IS RECEIVED.
<br />STATUS: FUTURE
<br />Stipulation No. 2
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