GENERAL44859 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

United States Department of the Interior BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Montrose District Office 2465 South Townsend Montrose, Colorado 81401 IN ~~ '~,19y~- In Reply Refer To: 3400 C-37210 ,~ 1 91992 tined Land Dear Concerned Citizen: Re Cyprus Orchard Valley Coal Company (COVCC) has requested clarification of stipulation (g) in section 31 of Federal coal lease C-37210 regarding mining in the Stevens Culch buffer zone. We have reviewed their request and determined that access entryways only in a north-south direction will not affect surface or subsurface resources. My staff has reviewed a mine plan initiated by COVCC proposing to mine the buffer zone utilizing a partial extraction methodology designed to protect the surface water resources of the drainage. Their mining method is specifically designed to prevent disturbance to the surface and overburden within the Lands designated for protection by special stipulation (g). Their mine plan calls for access entryways only through the buffer zone leaving all pillar coal in place upon abandonment. After study of the mine plan and preparation of an Environmental Analysis (EA) by the BLM mining engineer and geologist, we conclude that any subsidence that might result would be negligible in its effect on the surface. We feel that COVCC has proposed adequate safety factors within the mine plan design that would protect the surface resources. Surface features such as the Stevens Gulch road, Pitkin Mesa pipeline, steep hills, and gullies within the Stevens Gulch buffer zone were crossed in November of 1987 by a 5 entry system of access entryways only in an east-west direction as previously allowed by stipulation (g), and no structural damage or topographic changes due to subsidence has been found. Our records show that you were involved in the public meetings 10 years ago that helped BI,M develop the stipulations for the Paonia D-seam tract through the Unitah Southwest Utah EIS process. We would like your comment on the following proposed revision to stipulation (g). Stipulation (g) currently reads as follows: (g) Coal extraction will be limited in buffer zones established along East Roatcap Creek and Stevens Gulch where the overburden is 600 feet thick or less in order to prevent all surface and subjacent disturbance to the overburden. If necessary, access entryways needed to extract the coal on the west side of these water courses will be permitted through the buffer zones. The buffer zones will include the above mentioned bank-full stream channel and the alluvial/colluvial fill associated with them. The angle of draw used to protect these areas from subsidence will be dictated by site-specific geologic and mining conditions (the estimated angle of draw for the Mesa Verde formation is 15 to 20 degrees).