GENERAL44936

• Permit No: C1981018
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 5/13/2002
• Doc Name: FED MINE PLAN APPROVAL DOCUMENT 7/21/92
• Permit Index Doc Type: Other Permits
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

• stated in the SHPO concurrance letter to BLM dated October
1, 1991. The BLM, as Federal land management agency,
concurred with the proposed mining plan action in a
memorandum dated June 23, 1992.
I have determined that the proposed area of mining plan
approval ie not unsuitable for mining in accordance with
section 522 (b) of SMCRA.
The permit revision area is not on any Federal lands within
the boundaries of any national forest.
OSM has determined that approval of this mining plan will
not have a significant impact on the quality of the human
environment. The impacts of approval of this mining plan
and alternatives are described in the environmental
assessment included with the decision document. The
environmental assessment was jointly prepared by BLM and OSM
prior to issuance of Federal lease COC 51551, which was
originally issued for 1,360 acres. The lease was
subsequently modified at the request of Western Fuels to
reduce the lease area by 40 acres to 1,320 acres. The 40
acres were added to Federal lease C-023703, which lie
adjacent to Federal lease COC 51551 in the previously
approved mining plan area.
• The mining plan approval document included in the decision
document ie in conformance with the Mineral Leasing Act of
1920, as amended, and applicable Federal regulations. I
recommend that you advise the Assistant Secretary, Land and
Minerals Management, under 30 CFR Part 746, that the Western
Fuels' Deserado Mine mining plan for Federal lease COC 51551
is ready for approval.
II. Background
The Deserado underground coal mine is located in Rio Blanco
County, Colorado, about nine miles northeast of Rangely.
The mine has been in operation since 1981. About 900 acres
have been affected by surface disturbance to date.
Including the 1,320 acre proposed permit area, the total
permitted area of the Deserado Mine will contain about
10,856 acres. Mining is expected to continue for 15 years
under Colorado Permit No. C-81-018 and the approved mining
plan.
The Deserado Mine mining plans for Federal leases C-023703
and D-047201 were approved on July 15, 1981. The mining
plans for Federal leases C-8424, C-8425, and C-0126669 were
approved on May 19, 1986. The mining plan for Federal lease
'. C-44693 was approved on May 10, 1988. Approval of the
• current proposal will increase the number of approved mining
plan acres to 8,104 for all leases.