GENERAL54133

• Permit No: C1981033
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 12/11/2001
• Doc Name: FEDERAL LEASES COC-57632 & COC-57633 PART 3 OF 9
• From: OSM
• To: LAND & MINERALS MANAGEMENT
• Permit Index Doc Type: Other Permits
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

• program (30 CFR Chapter VII, Subchapter D), and the Colorado
cooperative agreement (30 CFR § 906.30). Pursuant to the
Colorado State program and the cooperative agreement,
Colorado DMG approved the permit revision on February 8,
1995.
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
(OSM) has consulted with other Federal agencies for
compliance with the requirements of applicable Federal laws,
and their comments and concurrences are included in the
decision document. The resource recovery and protection
plan was reviewed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for
compliance with the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended,
and 43 CFR Part 3480, and BLM recommended approval of the
mining plan in a memorandum dated December 8, 1994. The
U.S. Fiah and Wildlife Service provided its final
consultation comments under Section 7 of the Endangered
Species Act in a memorandum dated January 18, 1995. Based
upon independent review, OSM concurs with the State Historic
Preservation Officer's (SHPO) assessment and recommendations
for protection of cultural resources, as stated in the SHPO
concurrence letter dated March 13, 1995.
I have determined that the proposed area of mining plan
approval is not unsuitable for mining in accordance with
section 522 (b) of SMCRA.
• The permit revision area is not on any Federal lands within
the boundaries of any national forest.
OSM has determined that approval of this mining plan will
not have a significant impact on the quality of the human
environment. The impacts of approval of this mining plan
and alternatives are described in the environmental
assessment attached to the Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) included with the decision document.
The mining plan approval document included in the decision
document is in conformance with the Mineral Leasing Act of
1920, as amended, and applicable Federal regulations. I
recommend that you advise the Assistant Secretary, Land and
Minerals Management, under 30 CFR Part 746, that the BCC's
Bear Mine mining plan for Federal leases COC-57632 and
COC-57633 is ready for approval.
II. Background
The Bear underground coal mine is located in Gunnison
County, Colorado, next to the town of Somerset. The mine
has been in operation since 1934. About 8 acres have been
affected by surface disturbance to date. The total
• permitted area of the Bear Mine contains about 1889 acres.
Mining is expected to continue for 7 years under Colorado
Permit No. C-81-033 and the approved mining plan.