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<br />16, 1987. The transfer of the permit to Energy Fuels Mining Company was approved by the
<br />Division on September 18, 1987.
<br />Coal was mined, processed, and shipped from September 1988 to May 1990. Coal was mined
<br />only from the Animas portals. The Helen Mine was never activated during this time. On May
<br />24, 1990, the Division received notification of the temporary cessation of operations due to
<br />economic factors. Shortly aRer this notification, reclamation work began at the mine site and the
<br />Burlington Northern loadout. In June 1991 the Animas portals were sealed. In November 1991
<br />the Division received notification of the permanent cessation of mining.
<br />On November 18, 1991 the Division sent notification to the operator that a permit renewal
<br />application was due February 19, 1992. On the due date, the Division received a complete
<br />application for a permit renewal. Additional information related to the permit application was
<br />received on March 13, 1992. On Mazch 20, and March 25, 1992, the Applicant Violator System
<br />was queried and returned an `issue' recommendation.
<br />A first round of adequacy questions was sent on April 16, 1992 and a second round was sent on
<br />May 22, 1992. The Division received the operator's responses to the adequacy questions on
<br />August 12, 18, and 19, 1992.
<br />The operator requested two extensions of the decision date, from August 17, 1992 to September
<br />30, 1992 and from September 30, 1992 to October 30, 1992. The Division granted these
<br />requests. On October 13, 1992 the Division sent responses to the operator's adequacy responses,
<br />plus additional adequacy questions. Due to technical issues associated with the highwall and
<br />coal refuse waste bank, the operator requested, and the Division granted, a deadline extension to
<br />February 12, 1993. On February 12, 1993, the Division approved with conditions the permit
<br />renewal for the Raton Creek Mine. In May 1993, the Division approved a revision which
<br />changed the name of the operation from [he Animas/Helen Mine to the Raton Creek Mine. In
<br />addition, the names of the Animas Mine and the Helen Mine were changed to the Raton Creek
<br />Mine No. 1 and the Raton Creek Mine No. 2. Because of a change in Stipulation No. 11, the
<br />Division revised the permit renewal findings document in May 1993. On May 14, 1993, the
<br />Division again aooroved with conditions the Raton Creek Mine permit renewal.
<br />On February 13, 1997, the Division received an application for a permit renewal (RN-03) for the
<br />Raton Creek Mine. The Division notified the Office of Surface Mining, the Colorado Water
<br />Quality Control Commission, and the Las Animas County Commissioners. The applicant
<br />published notice of the application to renew the permit in the Chronicle-News on April 9, ] 6,23,
<br />and 30, 1997. Proof of publication was received by the Division on May 9, 1997. On October 6,
<br />1997, the Division forwazded adequacy concerns to the applicant. Energy Fuels submitted
<br />responses to these adequacy issues on Mazch 18, 1998. On May 12, 1998, the Division
<br />forwazded remaining adequacy issues to the applicant. Final responses were received by the
<br />Division on July 24, 1998 and August 21, 1998.
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