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i - ,, M <br />,T ' = <br />~_ <br />-~ <br />( <br />i <br />I^~ <br />MEMORANDUM <br />T0: <br />FROtd: <br />United States Department of the Interior <br />OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING <br />Reclamation and Enforcement <br />BROOKSTOWERS <br />1020 ISTH STREET <br />DENVER, COLORADO 80202 <br />June 17, 1982 <br />James R. Harris, Director, OSM ~]]/ <br />Allen D. Klein, Administrator, OSM, Western Technical Center <br />SUBJECT: Reconmendation for Reclamation of Bear Coal Company's Bear N1, N2, 8 <br />.mining of Bear N3 Mine, <br />Gunnison County, Colorado (Federal Lease Numbers D-052501, D-044569, <br />and C-011792). <br />I. Recommendation <br />Pursuant to 30 CFR 741.21(a)(1), I recommend approval with stipulations of the <br />Bear #1, N2, 8.#3 Mine permit application and mining and reclamation plan <br />(MRP) submitted by Bear Coal Company. The mining and reclamation plan, with <br />the adoption of the permit stipulations included with this memorandum, will be <br />in conformance with the applicable Federal regulations, the requirements of <br />the Colorado State Program, and the Mineral Leasing Act, as amended. I am <br />also recommending that you advise the Assistant Secretary for Energy and Min- <br />erals, pursuant to 30 CRF 741.12(a), that the Bear Coal Company's Bear N1, N2, <br />8 N3 Mine plan is ready for approval based upon OSM and CMLRD's Technical <br />Review of the MRP. The permit term will be five years. In addition, I concur <br />that a performance bond for the amount of $56,000.00 is adequate. <br />OSM and the State, in the course of the review, have identified some elements <br />of the applicant's permit proposal which, in order to be in compliance with <br />the Colorado State program and Federal laws, require stipulations. These con- <br />ditions are attached to the proposed permit NCO-0068, and are included as part <br />of the preferred alternative of those alternatives analyzed. (See the TEA on <br />file in the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) Western Technical Center as part of <br />the mining and reclamation plan, and in the office of the Colorado Mined Land <br />Reclamation Division [CMLRD].) <br />The Technical Analysis and Findings Document have been completed by CMLRD and <br />OSM, with the assistance of other federal and state agencies. <br />II. Background <br />The Bear Coal Company currentiy operates a complex of two small underground <br />mines (Bear No. 1 and No. 2) located approximately 10 miles northeast of <br />Paonia, Colorado and one-half mile east of Somerset, Colorado on the North <br />Fork of the Gunnison River, adjacent to Colorado Highway 133. (See location <br />maps). The Bear Coal Company sent in an application for the mining and recla- <br />mation plan for Bear #1 and #2 in February of 1981. Since that time their <br />sublease for Bear #1 and #2 has been revoked by ARCO Coal Company who owns the <br />coal lease for Bear ..#1 and #2 and the surface area. Mining in Bear #1 8 ;f2 <br />has ceased, equipment is being removed, portals will be sealed and reclamation <br />undertaken. <br />.~ <br /> <br />