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-5- SUMMARY The Review Process, Description of the Environment and Description of the Operations and Reclamation Plan The Review Process Colorado Yampa Coal Company (CYCC) is applying for a permit to conduct surface mining and reclamation operations at Energy Mine No. 3 under the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act. The mine is located in Routt County, Colorado, approximately ten (10) miles southwest of Steamboat Springs. Surface coal mining operations began in 1974 at Energy Mine No. 3 and were continuous through September, 1980. The surface mine has been inactive since then except for reclamation activities. Underground mining was initiated in May, 1979, at the Middle Creek Mine. The face-up for the underground mine was a highwall of the strip pit. Geotechnical problems were encountered and underground mining ceased in 1980. Both mines were operated by Energy Fuels Corporation under Permit No. 76-16. Colorado Yampa Coal Company (formerly Energy Fuels Corporation) submitted a permit application (C-036-81) for compliance with Colorado's Permanent Regulatory Program on February 18, 1981. The permit application included proposals for surface and underground mining and the tipple load-out facility on Fish Creek. Since the application was submitted, the application has been revised. The original permit application (C-036-81) has been separated into two applications, one for Energy Mine No. 3 and Middle Creek and the other for the Fish Creek tipple/load-out. CYCC submitted anew permit application for the Energy Mine No. 3 and Middle Creek Mine on January 23, 1984. The permit application revises the previous mine plan. Limited surface mining is proposed starting in 1985 and no underground mining is proposed. CYCC plans to backfill and grade the Middle Creek portal/pit area. The Energy Mine No. 3 permit application does not include the Fish Creek tipple/load-out facility. This facility is operated by Twentymile Coal Company, Permit No. C-036-81. Permit application C-036-81 was rewritten and all reference to the Energy No. 3 Mine and Middle Creek Mine were removed from the original permit application, and Permit C-036-81 addresses only the Fish Creek tipple/load-out facility. A letter identifying the inadequacies with the revised permit application was sent to CYCC on March 1, 1984. The Division met with the applicant on P4arch 16, 1984, to discuss the concerns. Responses were received by the Division on May 2, 1984. The original permit application has been substantially modified and CYCC is proposing a large amount of reclamation work in 1984. Therefore, it is necessary to permit the activities proposed in C-84-062 as soon as possible. For this reason the Division has attached several stipulations to the findings document for the remaining concerns. The Division feels it is necessary to get the mine permitted so that reclamation activities can commence in an approved and timely manner.