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would be required, but waste material from development of the B and E seam mining areas would be added to the existing lower-refuse pile. No surface disturbance would occur other than normal, planned subsidence from the longwall mining operations. The postmining land use is rangeland and wildlife habitat. With the proposed mining plan actions, the approved mining plan areas for the West Elk Mine would increase by 2068 acres for a new total of 6616 acres of Federal coal which includes the previously approved mining plan areas for Federal leases C-1362, C-0117192, COC-54558 and D-044569. Total Federal recoverable coal reserves for the B and E seams within all mining plan approval areas at the West Elk Mine would increase by 36.4 million tons for a new total of 52.9 million tons (38.3 in the B seam and 14.6 in the E seam). Total acres of Federal surface land within the mining plan areas would increase by 2068 acres for a new total of 4540 acres. The approved permit area would increase by 2500 acres from its present 5540 acres to a new total of 8040 acres. MCC estimates no increase in the current work force of about 230 employees to expand mining into the B and E seams of Federal leases COC-56447 and C-1362. • The DMG has attached one new permit stipulation to this permitting action and has carried-over 5 other stipulations that continue in force. The new stipulation prevents mining underneath Dry Fork of Minnesota Creek pending submittal and approval of an appropriate subsidence control plan. This stipulation may preclude mining of portions of Federal lease C-1362 immediately south of the present mining plan approval area. The stipulation is intended to protect the interests of the Dry Fork of Minnesota Creek Diversion and Reservoir Company whose irrigation facilities overlie the area of concern. OSM has attached three special conditions to this mining plan action. The three special conditions currently apply to the mining plan for Federal lease C-1362 and are included in this approval because the proposed activities and their location with respect to the eagle's nest buffer zone located immediately west of Federal lease C-1362 are the same as those approved in the current mining plan area for Federal lease C- 1362. Except for the condition protecting cultural sites from subsidence, the proposed mining plan area for Federal lease COC-56447 is located such that it would have no effect on the resources protected by the remainder of the special conditions that apply to Federal lease C-1362. Therefore, only the special condition concerning subsidence is applicable to Federal lease COC-56447.