Laserfiche WebLink
_3_ • <br />Summary <br />The Review Process, Description of the Environment <br />and <br />Uescription of the Operations and Reclamation Plan <br />The Review Process <br />The Nucla Mine is operated by Peabody Coal Company. The mine is located <br />in Montrose County, two and a half miles northwest of the town of Nucla. <br />It is a small surface coal mine, producing around 100,000 tons per year. <br />Peabody Coal Company has been operating the mine since 1963. <br />The proposed permit area contains 393 acres, of which 17U acres, as shown <br />on the attached Index Map and Operations Plan will be disturbed during <br />the five year permit term. All the surface land and coal reserves are <br />privately owned, there is no federal land. Much of the land within the <br />permit boundary has been disturbed by previous mining activities. <br />Peabody Coal Company is in the process of reclaiming many of the old <br />spoils. <br />Peabody Coal Company submitted the permit application on January 9, <br />1981. A completeness letter was sent to the applicant on January 14, <br />1981. The applicant began publishing public notice of the filing in the <br />San Niguel Basin Forum on January 29, 1981. A preliminary adequacy <br />letter was sent to the applicant on February 26, 1981. The ,applicant <br />responded to these concerns on October 30, 1981. <br />This Findings Document has been prepared by the Division with assistance <br />from other governmental agencies. <br />General Description of the Existing Environment <br />and <br />Operations and~eclamation Plan <br />The Nucla Mine permit area covers 393 acres. The topography is gently <br />sloping with a few small ridges and streamside slopes. Most of the land <br />surrounding the permit area is agricultural and is used primarily for <br />irrigated and non-irrigated farmland which produces alfalfa and pasture <br />grasses and dryland farming. Agricultural practices have been abandoned <br />within the permit area. <br />