Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />-z- <br />Mining will be at the rate of 1,800,000 tons per year with about 450,000 tons <br />per year going to the waste disposal area. There are sufficient reserves for <br />about 18 years of mining in the present leases. Additional coal is available <br />in the adjacent three Federal Preference Right Lease Applications (PRLA's) <br />(C-8428, C-8425, C-0726669) leased by Western Fuels-Utah, Inc. (attachment A, <br />B) and unleased Federal coal. <br />Coal is proposed to be transported to a proposed power plant for use in one of <br />the two units. At the present time, two locations are being studied for the <br />power plant. The company-preferred location is near Bonanza, Utah (the coal <br />would be shipped via a 34~i1e electrified railroad). The alternate site is <br />near Rangely, Colorado (coal would be transported via a 4-mile overland <br />conveyor). The presently submitted mine plan assumes the Bonanza site will be <br />chosen. <br />The application was originally submitted to OSM in March 1980. The plan was <br />found to be incomplete on August 5, 1980. The applicant provided additional <br />information on November 18, 1980, January 9, 1981 and June 2, 1981. The plan <br />was determined to be essentially "complete" in February 1981. Public notice <br />was given by the applicant on four consecutive weeks in the "Rangely Times" <br />and "Meeker Herald" in January 1981. Notice of a complete mine plan was given <br />by OSM for two consecutive weeks in the "Rangely Times" in February 1981. <br />D' <br />Public participation requirements of NEPA and SMCRA have been satisfied.~'~ The <br />impacts of the Deserado Coal Mine and the Moon Lake Power Plant were evaluated <br />in the final environmental impact statement (EIS) prepared by BLM, Rural <br />Electric Administration (REA) and OSM. A public scoping meeting was held in <br />Rangely, Colorado on September 10, 1979 to identify significant issues. The <br />draft EIS was prepared and made public on January 8, 1981 and a hearing was <br />held on February 19, 1981 in Rangely. Comments were received on the EIS from <br />state, industry, local government, other federal agencies, private organiza- <br />tions and the public. The final EIS was published in late April 1981 with the <br />public comment period ending June 1, 1981, and the comments received are <br />enclosed. <br />The major comments .on both the draft and final EIS were centered around the <br />socioeconomi~_i,~pacts that will occur to Rangely as a result of the proposed <br />power plant project. The State, Rio Blanco County, and the Town of Rangely <br />have written to OS[4 expressing concern that acceptable socioeconomic mitiga- <br />tion measures be negotiated between the local community and the applicant. <br />Because of this concern, OSM has worked with the community, the State, and the <br />applicant to ensure that a socioeconomic mitigation plan, agreeable to all <br />parties, was developed. The applicant's recent mitigation package (included <br />in the TEA) does reflect the concerted efforts of many, and we believe it <br />will, if appropriately implemented, mitigate most of the socioeconomic <br />impacts. <br />The GS concurred with the proposed action on February 25, 1981 and BLM <br />concurred on May 22, 1981. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was consulted <br />by BLM and OSM regarding threatened and endangered species and concurred with <br />