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Introduction
<br /> This document is the decision package prepared by the Colorado Division of Minerals and
<br /> Geology (Division) for the West Elk Mine Permit Revision No. 8. This document includes:
<br /> 1) the proposed decision to approve the permit revision application; 2) a summary which
<br /> includes a history of the review of the permit application, a description of the environment
<br /> affected by the operation and a description of the mining and reclamation plan; and 3) the
<br /> written findings of compliance the Division has made as required by the Colorado Surface Coal
<br /> Mining Reclamation Act. Detailed information concerning the findings of compliance can be
<br /> found in the Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining.
<br /> The Division received an application for a permit revision to add approximately 1,743 acres to
<br /> Mountain Coal Company's permit area. The revision adds the remainder of the Box Canyon
<br /> Federal coal lease (COC-56447) area to the current permit area. No surface facilities are
<br /> proposed in this revision. The application was submitted by Mountain Coal Company (MCC),
<br /> and the mine will be operated by Mountain Coal Company. At the time Permit Revision #8
<br /> was submitted, the mine encompassed approximately 7,840 acres on federal and private lands
<br /> within Gunnison and Delta Counties, Colorado. The legal description of the lands included
<br /> within the permit area include all or portions of: Sections 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21,
<br /> 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 34, 35, and 36, Township 13 South, Range 90 West of the
<br /> 6th P.M., and Sections 23, 24, 25 and 26, Township 13 South, Range 91 West of the 6th P.M.
<br /> The location of the above lands can be found on the USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangle maps of
<br /> Bowie and Somerset. A map showing the general location of the West Elk Mine is presented
<br /> in Figure 1 of this document.
<br /> Permit Revision #8 increases the acreage by approximately 1743 acres, to a total of 9583
<br /> acres, adding land within sections 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, and 23 of Township 13 South,
<br /> Range 90 West in addition to acreage within sections already included in the legal description.
<br /> Proposed Decision
<br /> The Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology proposes to approve an application for a
<br /> permit revision (Permit Revision No. 8) to a valid existing permit. This decision is based on a
<br /> finding that the operations will comply with all requirements of the Colorado State Program as
<br /> found in the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act, C.R.S. 34-33-101 et seq., and
<br /> the Regulations promulgated pursuant to the Act. If no request for a formal hearing is made
<br /> within thirty (30) days of the first publication of the issuance of this proposed decision, then
<br /> this decision becomes final. Upon submittal of acceptable surety by the applicant, the permit
<br /> will be issued. The permit application, all supporting documentation and any stipulations or
<br /> conditions will become a binding part of the permit.
<br /> A current list of outstanding stipulations is included below. These stipulations are conditions
<br /> of the permit prior to permit revision 08.
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