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~ i surlrrnHY or THE REVIEW PROCESS, THG ENVIRONhfENTAL DESCRIPTION AND THE MINING AND RECLAMATION PLAN Review Process Henry L. and Opal Weaver are applying for a permit under the Colorado Su r. face Coal Mining Reclamation Act to mine coal at the Ohio Creek Coal Mine No. 2 (OC Mine No. 2). The OC Mine No. 2 is located approximately 16 miles northeast of Gunnison, Colorado and produces approximately 10,000 tons of coal per year from Federal Coal Lease No. CO-069942. The OC Mine No. 2 was opened in 1943 and operated until 1962 when it voluntarily closed. Henry Weaver reopened the mine in July, 1968 and operated the mine until October, 1978, at which time Macar Mining Corporation sub-leased the mine property. Macar operated the mine under the sub-lease agreement until July 15, 1981. The Weavers again took over the operation at that time and are currently operating the mine under permit No. 79-38, issued on October 25, 1979 by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board. The OC Mine No. 2 application for a new permit was submitted on December 15, 1980, pursuant to Sec. 39-33-109 of the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act. Since that time the application has been under review by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division (Division). The preliminary adequacy review letter which identified deficiencies in the application was sent to the applicant on March 30, 1981. Resolution of these deficiencies is required in order for the Division to make determinations of compliance with the Act. The applicant responded to the comments in a letter on June 5, 1981. Subsequently, several meetings were held and responses to the Division's comments have been incorporated into the permit application. As a result, the review process has been adequately completed and the Division proposes to approve the OC Mine No. 2 permit application with stipulations. Environmental Description The mine site is on the southwest flank of a promontory near the Gunnison National Forest above the Ohio Creek Valley. The coal is mined from the B seam which is located in the Mesa Verde formation. The Ohio Creek Valley, the area in which the mine lies, is characterized by numerous faults and Fractures. The strata overlying and underlyiny the coal seam are non-marine shales. The Rollins Sandstone is stratagraphically 200 feet below the coal seam to be mined. The only aquifer of significant regional extent is tha Rollins Sandstone. The Rallins Sandstone will not be affected by the mining operation. Minor amounts of groundwater are encountered in the vicinity of the B seam as a result of the percolation of water through local fractures and faults. There are no major surface drainages within the immediate vicinity of the mine. The drainage from OC Mine No. 2 eventually enters Ohio Creek, approximately 2 miles southwest of the mine. Ohio Creek is the only perennial stream within a two-mile radius of the mine site.