GENERAL37804

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 12/15/1994
• Doc Name: Recommend Approval Fed Lease COC-54558
• From: OSM
• To: LAND AND MINERALS MANAGEMENT
• Permit Index Doc Type: Other Permits
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

• condition to ensure protection of endangered fishes in the
Colorado River Basin. That condition has been included in
the mining plan approval document.
Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG) reviewed the
PAP under the Colorado State program, the Federal lands
program (30 CFR Chapter VII, Subchapter D), and the Colorado
cooperative agreement (30 CFR ~ 906.30). Pursuant to the
Colorado State program and the cooperative agreement,
Colorado DMG's approval of the permit revision was final on
November 20, 1994.
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
(OSM) has consulted with other Federal agencies for
compliance with the requirements of applicable Federal laws,
and their comments and concurrences are included in the
decision document. The resource recovery and protection
plan was reviewed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for
compliance with the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended,
and 43 CFR Part 3480, and BLM recommended approval of the
mining plan in a memorandum dated March 8, 1994. The U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service provided its final consultation
comments under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act in a
memorandum dated June 30, 1994. OSM confirmed on November
18, 1994 that the June 30, 1994 Biological Opinion of the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was still valid. Based upon
• independent review, OSM concurs with the State Historic
Preservation Officer's (SHPO) assessment and recommendations
for protection of cultural resources, as stated in the SHPO
concurrence letter dated June 20, 1994.
I have determined that the proposed area of mining plan
approval is not unsuitable for mining in accordance with
section 522 (b) of SMCRA.
The permit revision area is not on any Federal lands within
the boundaries of any national forest.
OSM has determined that approval of this mining plan will
not have a significant impact on the quality of the human
environment. The impacts of approval of this mining plan
and alternatives are described in the environmental
assessment attached to the Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) included with the decision document.
The mining plan approval document included in the decision
document is in conformance with the Mineral Leasing Act of
1920, as amended, and applicable Federal regulations. I
recommend that you advise the Assistant Secretary, Land and
Minerals Management, under 30 CFR Part 746, that the MCC's
West Elk Mine mining plan for Federal lease COC-54558 is
• ready for approval.