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-4- SUh1MARY The Review Process, Description of the Environment and Uescriptiun of rile Uperations and Reclamation Plan The Review Process U. S. Steel Mininy Company, Inc. (U. S. Steel) submittea a permit application coveriny operations at the Somerset Mine to comply with the provisions of the Colorado Per;nanent Program Reyulations on February 11, 1981. The application was found to be complete and the company was so notified by a letter of Feoruary 13, 1931. Review of the application revealed concerns whicYr were detailed in the Preliminary Hdequacy Review letter of April 20, 1981. U.S. Steel responded to these concerns on June 19, 1981 by supplyiny revised pages to the application. Further review of the permit application identified additional areas of concern and an adequacy letter was forwarded to U.S. Steel on f4arch 25, 198"2. U.S. Steel responded to these concerns on April 16, 1982. On July 2U, 1982 the Division forwarded to u.S. Steel a letter clarifying some of the earlier identified concerns and describiny several new concerns. U.S. Steel submitted responses to all of the remaining concerns on fVovember lb, 1932. Tnis final response satisfied issues raised duriny the review process. The Division is, tnerefore, issuing a proposed decision to approve the application. Notice of this proposed decision will be published in a newspaper in the location of the ~nininy operations. Any person who nay be adversely affected by this decision is afforded the opportunity to request a formal hearing. If no requests are received within thirty (3U) days, the proposed decision becomes final. Uescription of the Enviruninent The Somerset Mine consists of 57 acres of surface disturbed land and 2,775 acres of land which has been or will be undermined and may potentially be affected by mining in the North Fork of the Gunnison River (NUrtn Fork) drainaye basin (See htap E3-3362 or E3-3306-Sheet 1 & 2 for the location of the mine 5-Year permit boundary considered in this decision). Surface facilities are located in the Elk Creek, Bear Creek and Hubbard Creek drainages on the north side of the North Fork (Jee General Location Plop). Active mining areas include workinys under the Hu boa rd and Bear Creek drainaye s. The surface lands within the permit area include lands owned by U.S. Steel and Federal Lands (USES and BLM). The coal reserve owners include U. S. Steel, private lands leased to U.S. Steel and federal Lands. Hubbard Creek is a perennial tributary of the North Fork and provides ooth domestic and agricultural supplies of water. Bear Creek and Elk Creek are intermittent streams. The North Fork is a highly developed water supply which provides agricultural water to the fruit yrowing region of the North Fork Valley. The North Fork enters the main stem of the Gunnison River approximately 3U miles southwest of the Somerset Mine.