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-3- SUMMARY Review Process Sundance Coal Company is applying for a permit under the Colorado SurfaceiCoal Mining Reclamation Act (C.R.S. 34-33-101 et sue.) to mine coal at the Animas Mine. The mine is located in Las Animas County, Colorado, approximately three miles south of Trinidad, Colorado beside Interstate Highway 25 in Sections 31, and 32, T33S, R63W, and Section 36, T33S, R64W. A number of small underground mines were operated in the proposed mine site in the early 1900'5. In 1978, another small underground operation, the Helen Mine, was developed and operated by Animas Coal Company, Inc. An interim coal mining permit was issued to Animas Coal Company, inc, on February 28, 1979 pursuant to the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Act. Operations continuetl under this permit until August 15, 1981, at which time the interim permit. expired and the company ceased operation. Animas Coal Company, Inc. had submitted an application and was in the process of submitting responses to the Preliminary Adequacy Review when the operation was purchased by Sundance Coal Company in April of 1982. Sundance Coal Company became the new permittee on the application previously submitted by Animas Coal Company, Inc. The name of the mine has subsequently been changed from the Helen Mine to the Animas Mine. On April 19, 1982, the Division sent a letter to Sundance Coal Company which identified deficiencies in the application that had not been resolved. Meetings were held with Sundance Coal Company to discuss necessary information and investigations. On June 9, 1982, Sundance responded to the Division concerns with a total resubmittal of a revised permit application. This application was reviewed and a permit was issued August 16, 1982. This permit has been subsequently revised several times. A few of these revisions included plans for construction and use of various surface facilities at the mine site and a coal train loadout in the city of Trinidad, Colorado. After being permitted many, but not all of the proposed surface facilities were constructed. Reclamation costs for all the permitted surface facilities where ca]culated and the reclamation bond on file with the Division was adjustetl to reflect these additional costs. The application for this permit revision was submitted on September 13, 1984. It was found to be complete on September 24, 1984. Adequacy concerns centered on bonding calculations. All information has been reviewed by the Division for compliance. ~~ ~i~;.~~: I~~ I i ~.r~i~ ~