Laserfiche WebLink
• Without regulatory approval of this permit, coal production from the <br />Peacock Coal Mine cannot resume and its operation will be permanently <br />shut down. Jobs would be lost and customers would not receive coal. If <br />the Peacock Coal Mine, as one of the long time employers in near <br />Hesperus, is forced to permanently halt mining operations, adverse <br />socioeconomic impacts would be severely felt in the local community and <br />would eventually extend to the entire country. Because of the nation's <br />current high unemployment rate and other economic problems, curtailment <br />of operations at the Peacock Coal Mine would only add to the troublesome <br />situation by creating additional unemployed Americans. <br />Because Sunbelt currently has existing mining facilities, additional <br />environmental impacts from mining will be minimal. Support facilities <br />such as office buildings, crushers, etc. are already owned by Sunbelt <br />and will only be used to continue mining the additional reserves in the <br />area. The area which wi1T be disturbed will be reclaimed to beneficial <br />uses similar to adjacent areas. Importantly, southwest Colorado will <br />• enjoy resumed production of coal at increasing rates and will receive <br />revenues because of renewed employment and local taxes. <br />Sunbelt respectively requests that the Division approve this application <br />and the mining and reclamation plan as delineated within this <br />application. <br />Comoliance with the Colorado Surface Coal Minino Reclamation Act of 1979 <br />In an effort to facilitate and expedite the review of this revision, <br />Sunbelt has held meetings with the Division during the fall of 1981 for <br />the purpose of discussing and reaching some understanding concerning <br />this permit, design criteria for certain structures, and environmental <br />baseline information requirements. This permit for Peacock Coal Mine <br />has proceeded in substantial reliance upon discussion held at these <br />meetings and subsequent conversations and general meetings held by the <br />Division. <br />• <br />5 <br />