Laserfiche WebLink
Under this approval, mining is anticipated to proceed until 2016. The <br />PAP indicated that mining operations for the life of the Munger Canyon <br />mine would cease around the year 2016 and would affect approximately <br />5,000 acres, of which 5,081.72 acres are leased Federal coal lands. I am <br />recommending approval for a portion of the area to be mined over the life <br />of the Munger Canyon mine based on the environmental assessment and the <br />adequacy of the data and information provided by Salt Creek Mining <br />Company in the PAP. <br />The underground mining operations principally will utilize <br />room-and-pillar mining methods using a continuous miner The Cameo and <br />Upper Carbonera coal seams will be mined at a production rate of <br />approximately 149,000 tons in the first year, increasing to 875,000 tons <br />in year 5. All mining and reclamation operations are scheduled to cease <br />around the year 2,016. This mining operation will not affect any <br />environmentally-sensitive areas. <br />During the review of the PAP the following major issues were identified: <br />(1) The applicant proposed to locate a portion of the surface <br />disturbance on an alluvial valley floor (AVF). The AVF had <br />historically been used for grazing. An analysis was done by <br />the applicant and reviewed by the Colorado MI.RD and OSMRE. <br />Colorado MLRD found that the small portion of the AVF which <br />would be affected by the operation provided negligible support <br />for the production of the affected farming unit. Colorado MLRD <br />also determined that there would be no significant impacts or <br />material damage to the hydrologic character of the affected AVF. <br />