GENERAL53420

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 6/12/2000
• Doc Name: PR8 Mine Plan approval
• From: OSM
• To: DMG
• Permit Index Doc Type: Other Permits
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

No elements of MCC's proposal require special conditions to comply with Federal law.
• The Assistant Secretary's approval of this mining plan modification will authorize mining
of an additional 18 million tons of Federal coal. Approval of this mining plan action will
increase the number of acres of Federal coal in the approved mining plan azea by 1,743
acres to a new total of 6,083 as shown on the map included with this decision document.
An additional 1,543 acres of Federal surface lands will be included in the mining plan
azea as a result of this action. The State's pernut azea at the West Elk Mine will contain
about 9,583 acres. The life of the mining operations is expected to continue for 25 yeazs
under Colorado Permit No. C-80-007 and this proposed mining plan action.
If you concur with this recommendation, please sign the attached memorandum to the
Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.
II. Background
The West Elk underground coal mine is located in Delta and Gunnison Counties,
Colorado. The mine has been in operation since 1982. About 108 surface acres aze
disturbed within the State's permit azea. The mining operations use longwall and room-
and-pillazmimng methods. The B and E coal seams aze mined at an average production
rate of about 6.7 million tons per yeaz and a maximum production rate of 8.2 million tons
per yeaz.
• The West Elk Mine mining plans for Federal leases C-1362, C-0117192 and D-044569
were initially approved on July 15, 1981. Since that approval there have been six mining
plan modifications for those Federal leases that were approved on August 15, 1985;
September 27, 1985; November 21, 1987; December 22, 1989, December 21, 1994, and
April 26, 1996.
III. Review Process
The DMG reviewed the PAP under the Colorado State program, the Federal lands
program (30 CFR Chapter VII, Subchapter D), and the Colorado cooperative agreement
(30 CFR §30 CFR 906.30). Pursuant to the Colorado State program and the cooperative
agreement, DMG approved the permit revision on January 26, 2000.
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) has consulted with
other Federal agencies for compliance with the requirements of applicable Federal laws.
Their comments and/or concurrences are included in the decision document.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) reviewed the resource recovery and
protection plan for compliance with the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as
amended, and 43 CFR Part 3480. The BLM recommended approval of the
mining plan modification in a memorandum dated December 10, 1999.