GENERAL48922 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

• _I_ • ~~ I~JTRODOCTIOPI Pittsburg and Midway Coal Company, a subsidiary of Gulf Oil Corporation, has filed an application to continue surface coal mining operations at the Edna mine, five miles northwest of Oak Creek (see Exhibit 1.0-1 of the permit application). During the requested five year permit term, 1,120 acres of land will be disturbed, of which 802 acres will be actively mined using surface mining nr_thods. The permit area, .in comparison, is 4,.360 acres because previously mined lands are also included within the permit boundary. The permit area is roughly dcl.ineated by the natural boundaries of Trout Creek to the [lest, and Oak Creek to the East. The interior of the permit area can be subdivided on the basis of disturbance, as is sF,own on Exhibit 1.0-1 of the application. The Moffat area, which constitutes ronphly the northern half of the permit area, is un- disturbed at this time. Immer?iat~lr/ to the South of the :Moffat area is a pro viously mined and reclaimed area, To the South of this reclaimed area, the permit area can be broken into thirds; the East third being designate-d as East Ridge, the (:rest third being designated as West Ridge, and tl:e center third being designated as Center Ridge. The West Ridge area was mined previously and was left unreclaimed. Pittsburg and Midway is currently mining through these unreclaimed spoils to recover a deeper coal seam. Mining will continue in tiro West Ridge area for four and a half years and will then move to the f~roffat a ma, producing apnro:;imately 900,600 tons of coal a year. The permit application which involves an expansion of the existing surface mine was fiied November 25, 1980 and deem,,d complete nn Dccemi.~er S, 19R0. The Division and the Office of Sucface ]dining, in a joint reviewing process with help From other State and Federal agencies, developed tbo Preliminary Adequacy Review Letter which was sent to the company on February 9, 1947. ern i~pril 10, 1981, the applicant formally responded to the Adequacy Letter. Eight subsequent meetings have been held to resolve problems encountered riuring the permit ._•.•icw.