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Summary of the Review Process <br />The Division sent out a 270 day notification to renew a valid Coal Mining Permit on May 10, <br />1996 to Honeywood Coal Company and Stover and Associates. The Division received a <br />complete application for RN-Ol on June 6, 1996. Acknowledgement of this was made to the <br />operator and engineering firm handling the permit revision on June 10, 1996. Publication of the <br />proposed permit renewal was made June 27, July 5, 11 and 18, 1996 in the San Miguel Basin <br />Forum. Staff comments generated in regard to adequacy issues identified during the review of <br />the proposed revision were conveyed to J.E. Stover and Associates in a letter dated November <br />8, 1996. Seven AVS checks were conducted, the first on August 14, 1996 and the last on <br />February 10, 1997. A problem with one of the controlling personnel for a Kentucky mine, <br />Canyon Coals Inc., that is associated with Honeywood Coal Company, was the cause for a Deny <br />condition that delayed the approval of the application and resulted in a stipulation to the permit. <br />The final revised narrative and maps were received on November 8, 1996. No public comments <br />concerning the permit renewal were received. With the exception of Stipulation 1, the <br />remaining issues were addressed with this material, the Division is proposing to approve the <br />application for RN-Ol. <br />Descr~tion of the Environment <br />Introduction <br />The Hamilton Mine permit area encompasses 1197 acres. The area is situated atop a gently <br />north sloping mesa overlooking Na[urita Creek and the San Miguel River. The mesa is part of <br />an extensive flat-land area which extends southeast to the San Juan Mountains. The area was <br />formed from the resistant, Cretaceous-age Dakota Sandstone and Burro Canyon Formation. The <br />Dakota Sandstone is [he bedrock of the mine area and contains [he coal to be mined. The mesa <br />to be mined is bounded on the west by Bramiers Draw and on the east by Long Draw. The <br />northernmost permit boundary is approximately one mile south of Naturita Canyon. The <br />southern permit area boundary is 1.5 miles south of and parallel to the northern permit area <br />boundary. <br />The mine is located within the southeast portion of the Colorado Plateau. The region is <br />characterized by broad, fairly smooth surfaced plateaus and mesas with gently dipping slopes <br />dissected by steep canyons. Surface elevations at the Hamilton Mine range from a high of 6,050 <br />feet (MSL) in the southern part of the permit area to a low of 5,800 feet in the northern parts <br />of the permit area. Total topographic relief is thus about 250 feet. <br />Climate <br />The regional climate of the Hamilton Mine area is typical of intermountain regions. It is <br />characterized by cold winters, hot summers, low rainfall, and short growing seasons. The <br />Hamilton Mine receives approximately twelve inches of precipitation in an average year. The <br />majority of the precipitation falls between October and May. <br />3 <br />