2001-07-16_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1980007

Home Browse Search

The Colorado Division of Wildlife has established a corridor along the North Fork of the Gunnison River for use by the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), which is a common winter visitor to Colorado. BLM inventories conducted in 1978 through 1980, and monitoring flights conducted through 1985, did not locate any roost or nest sites, or areas of winter concentration on or near the study area. The possibility exists for nesting to occur along the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Loggerhead shrike (Lanius htdovicianus), Federal category 2 species, use has not been recorded on the study area, although potential breeding and nesting habitat is present. Loggerhead shrikes are dependent upon sagebrush and gambel oak shrub communities for breeding and nesting habitat in this region during spring and summer. They are uncommon in the area during winter. For specific information regarding study areas, methods for identification and counting of the various wildlife present in the area, see Section 2.04.11 of the permit document. Description of the Operations and Reclamation Plan- Rule 2.05.3 and 2.05.4 Mining at the West Elk underground mine began in 1982. The West Elk Mine lease block consists of minable coal reserves in five Federal coal leases, one private lease and other fee coal properties. Together the leases encompass approximately 15,500 acres. Six major coal seams exist on the West Elk Mine property. The seams are identified by letter with the A Seam being the lowermost and the F Seam the uppermost. The intervals between the seams vary from as little as 15 feet to more than 250 feet. The economically minable coal reserves in these leases occur in two of the six seams (the E and B Seams). The B Seam has been mined and the E Seam is planned to be mined in Lease D-044569; the B Seam has been mined in Leases COC-54558 and C-0117192, where mining continues; the plan is to mine the B Seam Lease COC-56447; and the B Seam has also been mined, and further B Seam and E Seam are planned for mining in Lease C-1362. The B-seam will be mined in those portions of Leases COC-56447 and C-1362 that comprise the Box Canyon Permit Revision area added with PR-08. Mountain Coal Company believes the E Seam can be mined without precluding mining of the B Seam. This conclusion is based on experience gained by the Mountain Coal Company since opening the West Elk Mine, recent geotechnical analyses, and advances in mining technology. Mountain Coal Company mined in the F Seam from 1982 to 1991 from Lease D-004569 and C-0117192. This mining was only marginally successful. Poor mine roof conditions, sandstone channels, low coal areas, poor coal quality areas, and other unfavorable conditions have negatively affected mining and rendered this seam uneconomic under past and present market conditions. Approximately 180 feet below the F Seam horizon lies the E Seam. Mining plans in the E-Seam are presented on Map 51. The E Seam in the west panels of the Apache Rocks Permit Revision area is planned to be mined prior to the B Seam panels beneath. 18