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SUMMARY <br />THE REVIEW PROCESS <br />On October 2, 1990, Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division notified Salt <br />Creek Mining Company that mining permit C-80-004 for the McClane Canyon Mine <br />would expire on July 5, 1991. The Division requested as per Rule 2.08.5 that <br />a renewal application be received in the Division office on or before <br />January 5, 1991. <br />On December 24, 1990, Salt Creek Mining Company applied to the Colorado Mined <br />Land Reclamation Division for successive renewal of a valid existing coal <br />mining and reclamation permit for the McClane Canyon Mine. On July 02, 1991, <br />the Division received an application for a revision to the McClane Canyon Mine <br />permit. The permit revision included the addition of 2,064 acres to the <br />permit area, the addition of a haul road adjoining the neighboring Munger <br />Canyon Mine permit area, and an extension of the current three year permit <br />term to a renewal term of five years. In light of Salt Creek Mining Company's <br />request for a longer permit term, and in accordance with Rules 2.08.5(1)(a) <br />and 2.05.5(1)(b), the Division reviewed the permit renewal and permit revision <br />concurrently. <br />Publications of Salt Creek Mining Company's renewal application were published <br />in the Glenwood Post January 18, January 25, February 2, and February 8, <br />1991. Publications for the permit revision occurred July 29, August 5, August <br />12, and August 19, 1991. <br />On September 6, 1991, the Division notified Salt Creek Mining Company of its <br />adequacy concerns based on the Division's preliminary adequacy review of the <br />permit revision. Salt Creek resolved the adequacy concerns in responses dated <br />November 4, November 26, and November 29, 1991. <br />On October 10, 1991 the Division spoke with the Bureau of Land Management <br />Grand Junction Resource Area. The Bureau expressed concern over construction <br />of the haul road connecting the McClane Canyon permit area to the adjoining <br />Munger Canyon permit area C-81-020, since this road is not proposed to be <br />constructed until needed. Since adequate plans for the haul road, as required <br />by Rule 4.03.1, were submitted in the permit revision application, the <br />Division is proposing to approve the proposed haul road construction. As per <br />Rule 2.07.3(3)(b)(i) the Bureau will be notified upon receipt of future permit <br />revisions or renewals. <br />The publication of this proposed decision by the Division begins a thirty (30) <br />day public comment period, after which the decision becomes final provided <br />there are no objections. <br />DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT <br />The McClane Canyon Mine is located approximately 20 miles north of Loma, <br />Colorado, at an elevation of approximately 5,800 feet. Land use within the <br />permit and adjacent areas is rangeland and wildlife habitat. Rangeland is <br />generally confined to the lower lying canyon bottom lands. The upland area <br />consists of steep slopes and rugged topography and is primarily used by <br />wildlife. Some irrigated agriculture is practiced in the East Salt Creek <br />Valley which is adjacent to the permit area. <br />-3- <br />