2008-03-21_PERMIT FILE - C1980007A (49)

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West Elk Mine • The only USFS grazing allotment within the permit area is the Dry Fork C&H allotment. This allotment covers portions of Sections 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, and 29 within the permit area. The Dry Fork allotment covers 31,849 acres with 15,124 acres considered suitable for grazing. Since 1988, the USFS has prescribed a two herd, eight pasture modified rest/deferred rotation grazing system. The prescription calls for 607 cow/calves to be grazed between June 16 and October 15, for a total of 2,428 animal unit months. Based on the draft soil survey for the Gunnison National Forest (USFS, unpublished), productivity of the area for livestock and big game ranges widely depending on the type of soil, topography, and vegetation present. Annual production varied from 250 to 3,000 pounds per acre of air-dry understory vegetation on the Gunnison National Forest lands. Private Lands Private lands within the West Elk Mine permit area are either owned by or leased to MCC. Pre- mining land uses on these lands included cattle grazing, wildlife habitat, and dispersed recreational activities (hunting, trapping, off-road vehicle use). These uses are consistent with adjacent public lands. Owners of these lands have not specifically quantified the capability or productivity of their lands based on the land uses identified above. Productivity and capability of these private lands should be expected to be comparable with analogous lands on the adjacent Gunnison National Forest. Annual production of between 250 to 3,000 pounds per acre of air-dry understory vegetation could be expected, based on the soil type, vegetation communities, and topography. is On all areas affected, MCC proposes to reclaim the areas to capability and productivity consistent with the identified land uses of rangeland and wildlife habitat. This is accomplished through successful revegetation, as outlined in the reclamation plan it Section 2.05.4. Previous Minim: West Elk Permit and Adiacent Areas The North Fork of the Gunnison River has been a coal mining district since at least 1902 when operations at the Somerset Mine began. The mine was sold and ceased operation on December 31, 1985. The facilities of the Somerset Mine were reopened in 1991 with the development of the Sanborn Creek Mine to the east of the town of Somerset. The Hawk's Nest Mines, just east of the West Elk Mine, opened in 1912 and ceased operation in January of 1983. Bowie Resources Limited, formerly Cyprus Coal Company, Inc. and Colorado Westmoreland Inc., currently operates the Bowie Mine No. 1 (formerly the Orchard Valley Mine), just north of Paonia. The east portals opened in 1976 and the west portals in 1987. In addition, several small mines have operated for varying periods of time including the Bowie, Clark, Converse, Edwards, Oliver, Farmers, and more recently the Blue Ribbon Mine. Except for the Blue Ribbon Mine, none of these mines operated for long. The Blue Ribbon Mine ceased operation in 1984. Since 1935, the Bear Coal Company has operated coal mines near the West Elk Mine's permit area. From 1935 until 1982, the Bear No.l and No.2 Mines operated ii the C Seam of the Mesaverde Formation. This seam lies approximately 400 feet below the F Seam in the same geographical area as the West Elk Mine. Consequently, the Bear No. 1 and No. 2 Mine workings partly underlie the West Elk Mine workings. Map 5 shows the Bear No. 1 and No.2 mine workings that lie entirely on leases held by Mountain Coal Company. The Bear No. 1 and No. 2 Mines were room and pillar 2.04.4 Revised June 2005 PRIO; Rev. March 2006 ; Rev. April 2006 PRIO, Sep. 2007 PR12