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E1`tiIRONPfENTAL P.SSESS.`~NT
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<br />TRAPPER MINING, INC.
<br />TRAPPEP. MINE
<br />I1`'fRODUCTION
<br />The Trapper Mining, Inc. (TMI) Trapper Mine is an existing coal mining
<br />operation located in Moffat County, Colorado, approximately 5 miles southwest
<br />of the city of Craig, south on Colorado State Highway .13/789. The mine is
<br />currently operating under a limited Federal life-of-mi~ie mine plan approved on
<br />November 16, 1976, modified in 1979, extended December 1981 and July 1982, and
<br />state permit No. CO-10-81 approved by the Colorado P:in~=_d Land Reclamation
<br />Division (CPfLF.D) on December 31, 1982. The permittee commenced mining
<br />operations in 1977. Coal mined at the Trapper Mine is utilized by the Craig
<br />Generating Station, immediately adjacent to the permit area on the north.
<br />Three Environmental Statements have been written for the Trapper Mine Plan
<br />area. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Electrification
<br />Administration (USDA-REA) evaluated site specific impacts that could occur
<br />from mining coal for the Craig Generating Station (USDA-REA-ES)(ADPf)-74-2-F)
<br />(Yampa Project Final Environmental Statement (1975). The Bureau of Land
<br />lfanagment (BLM) analyzed regional impacts and site specific impacts from
<br />development of coal mining in the final Environmental Statement, Northwest
<br />Colorado Coal (1977) and in the updated Northwest Suppplemental Report
<br />(1979). In addition, the OSM contracted for an assessment of the cumulative
<br />hydrologic impacts of anticipated coal mining in the Yampa P,iver Basin of
<br />Colorado on the hydrologic balance. (Kaman-Tempo, KT-81-031(R), 1982).
<br />• A coal mining permit application (No. C-010-81) submitted by Utah
<br />.International, Inc., on February 2, 1981, to the CMLRI+ and to the Office of
<br />Surface Mining (OSPf), proposes a 10,335 acre permit area. If the application
<br />is approved, approximately 810 acres would be disturbed by the mining
<br />operation. Annual coal production is projected at a maximum rate of 2.3
<br />million tons per year during this permit term.
<br />The proposed permit area includes portions of Section:; 5 and 6, T. 5 N., P,. 90
<br />W.; portions of Sections 1 and 5 and all of Sections :?, 3, and 4, T. 5 N., R.
<br />91 W.; portions of Sections 30 and 32, and all of Section 31, T. 6 N., R. 90
<br />W.; and portions of Sections 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, and all of sections
<br />33, 34, 35, and 36, T. 6 N., R. 91 W.
<br />PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION
<br />The CMLRD, in accordance with the approved Colorado State Pzogram, has
<br />reviewed T1•fI's Trapper Mine mining and reclamation 5-:year permit application
<br />and has submitted a technical analysis (TA) document to the Department of
<br />Interior, OSPt. CMLRD has approved the permit application pursuant [o the
<br />requirements of the State permanent program. Pursuant to 30 CFR 741.4(b), OS*1
<br />will approve, disapprove, or conditionally approve the permit and mine plan
<br />for this surface coal mining and reclamation operation on Federal lands.
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