2000-09-25_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981022

• Permit No: C1981022
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 9/25/2000
• Doc Name: PROPOSED DECISION & FINDINGS OF COMPLIANCE FOR RN3
• Permit Index Doc Type: FINDINGS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

renewal. No other responses were received by the Division. The Applicant Violator System
(AVS) was queried for any non-compliance issues relating to Oxbow Mining, Inc.. The AVS
gave an "issue" recommendation.
The Division's adequacy review letter was dated July 30, 1999. Because the operator chose to
rewrite and reorganize the entire Sanborn Creek Mine permit application, it was decided to
separate the permit application reorganization effort from the permit renewal process. Since the
permit renewal adequacy questions were more pertinent to the reorganization, rather than to the
permit renewal itself, the OMI responses to the permit renewal adequacy review questions were
submitted in a new Permit Revision No. 4.
Just prior to the proposed decision for Permit Renewal No. 3, [he reclamation bond estimate was
recalculated in Technical Revision No.32 to adjust the estimate to 2000 costs. Permit Renewal
No. 3 relies on the Technical Revision No. 32 reclamation cost estimate plus the increase in the
reclamation costs due to activities approved in Minor Revision No. 54.
This document contains the "Proposed Decision to Approve the Permit Application," a
description of the environment affected by the mining operation and the reclamation plan, and
the Division's written findings of compliance as required by the Colorado Surface Coal Mining
Reclamation Act. Detailed information concerning the review process is on file at the Division
offices; legal requirements can be found in the Act and Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land
Reclamation Board for Coal Mining. All rules referenced in [his document are contained within
the Regulations. Detailed information about the proposed mining and reclamation operation can
be found in the permit application on file (File No. C-81-022) in the public record maintained by
the Division, located in Room 215, Centennial Building, 1313 Sherman Street, Denver, Colorado
80203, telephone [phone]. Copies of the application are also available for inspection at
the Delta County Clerk and Recorder's Office in Delta, Colorado.
Right of Successive Renewal
C.R.S. 34-33-109(7) and Regulation 2.08.5 allow an operator to permit any lands outside the
five-year mine plan area with the right of successive renewal. Oxbow Mining, Inc. has exercised
this right. The permit area for the Sanbom Creek Mine that was included in the application
contains coal reserves projected to last until the year 2013. The Division originally granted
Oxbow Mining, Inc. conditional approval to mine all of these lands. However, the permit term
will be divided into five-year increments. At the end of each permit term, Oxbow Mining, Inc.
need only apply for a permit renewal (along with responding adequately to any applicable
stipulations or conditions). In determining whether to approve or deny a renewal, the burden
shall be on the opponent of the renewal.
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