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., -_ h PAGE BA----Glenwood Springs (Colo.) POST --Friday, March 1, 7991 t Mine Continued from Page lA per year. Issuance of that permit was approved on conditions that road improvements be made to County Road 237 once that level of production was reached. However, because Eastside never got to that level of produc- tion, the road improvements were never made and the permit never was formally issued. statement. The GCA says it does not oppose continued mining in Harvey Gap, as long as past pro- duction levels are maintained. "The GCA would not oppose such an operation and would co- operate in securing Eastside a per- mit to reflect that type of mine;' the statement said. But certain other information is needed about Eastside's future plans, GCA spokesman Greg "It is impossible for a permit to McKennis said, including whether expire when it never came into the power plant is still being pro- existence;' Lochhead wrote. posed. The Ga~eld Citizens Alliance, which formed last year in opposi- tion to Eastside's plans to build an 80-megawatt coal-fired power plant in conjunction with ifs mine, is also keeping tabs on the latest situation involving Eastside. "We disagree with the conclu- sions reached by Mr. Lochhead in that we do not believe that East- side has any right to claim any valid pre-existing nonconforming use;' the group said in a position Self declined to comment on the status of the power plant pro- posal. Aplan to build an 80- megawatt cogeneration plant one mile west of Silt along the Col- orado River was dropped early last year after the county Planning Commission recommended the project be denied. The cogen pro- ject application was pulled before the county commissioners had a chance to hear it. Davis, of Superior Western, was also taking the lead in devel- oping the cogen project, and plans then were to expand the coal mine to close to 1 million tons per year to accommodate the power plant. Self said if a 200,000-ton pro- duction year level is reached, the mine could employ about.35 min- ers. He said he's been receiving calls from from Mid-Continent Resources miners asking for jobs. Mid-Continent's coal mine near Redstone closed down in early February, puffing more than 420 miners out of work. The GCA has also raised ques- tions about Eastside plans Cor hauling its coal. A rail load-out facility near Rifle had been planned at one time, but plans now are to truck the coal from the mine and not use rail at all, Self said. Self also said the reopening of the mine is contingent on obtain- ing new contracts for the coal, so no definite reopening dale is planned. He said any inforration regazding contracts at Ihis point is confidential.