Laserfiche WebLink
SUMMARY <br />The Review Process, <br />Description of the Environment, and <br />Description of the Operations and Reclamation Plan <br />The Review Process <br />The Apex No. 2 Mine, operated by Sunland, is located in Routt County <br />approximately 6.5 miles northwest of the town of Oak Creek along Routt <br />County Road 29. The mine has been operated by Sunland since 1976. <br />The original permanent program permit application was submitted by <br />Sunland on Fehruary 4, 1981. The Division proposed to approve this <br />application as detailed in the proposed decision and findings of <br />compliance document dated March, 1983. This dPCisiOn to approve became <br />final and Permit C-81-011 was issued to Sunland nn May 26, 1983 for a <br />five-year term. <br />The Apex Nn. 2 Mine temporarily ceased operations and has heen under a <br />Division-approved temporary cessation since January 31, 1986. At the <br />time of writing this document, this operation remains under a <br />Division-approved temporary cessation. <br />As required by Rule 2.OA.5(2)(a), the Division sent notice to Sunland on <br />August 17, 1987 pertaining to the forthcoming expiration of Permit <br />C-87-011 on May 26, 1988 and the right of successive renewal. Sunland <br />submitted Permit Renewal No. 1 application which was received by the <br />Division nn November 20, 1987 (prior to the 180-day filing date). This <br />application was deemed complete on November 30, 1987 and Sunland <br />commenced publishing public notice of this renewal application in The <br />Steamboat Pilot on December 24, 1987. Nn comments were received during <br />tt i~pu~Tic comment period. <br />The Division forwarded adequacy letters to Sunland on January 25, 1988 <br />and March 10, 1988 which were responded to on February 23, 1988 and <br />April 11, 1988, respectively. Also, an on-site meeting was held on <br />May 3, 1988 to discuss reclamation requirements and corresponding bonding <br />requirements. All of the Division's concerns have been adequately <br />addressed by Sunland. <br />Description of the Environment <br />The topography of the general area is one of a semi-arid steppe region <br />with numerous dip slopes formed by differential erosion of the strata. <br />Elevations within the permit area range from 8000 feet on the <br />northeast/southwest trending ridgeline to 7400 feet along the banks of <br />Trout Creek. Within the permit area, rangeland is restricted to the high <br />plateau and the valley bottom; whereas, the steep-sided valley is <br />utilized by wildlife. Previously, underground mining has occurred within <br />the permit area. <br />-4- <br />