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(6) the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety's (CO-DRMS) <br />West Elk Mine (Permit No. C-1980-007) Proposed Decision - Technical Revision <br />No. 111 (TR-111) E Seam Methane Drainage Wells for Longwall Panel E1 <br />(Conceptual Plan) <br />If you concur with this recommendation, please sign the attached memorandum to the <br />Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management. <br />II. Background <br />The West Elk underground coal mine is located in Delta and Gunnison Counties, <br />Colorado, approximately two miles east of the town of Somerset, Colorado on both <br />USDA Forest Service and private lands. The mine has been in operation since 1982 and <br />currently employs 480 people during full production. The current life of the approved <br />mining operation within the approved permit area is estimated to be approximately <br />thirteen (13) years. The mining operations use a combination of room and pillar and <br />longwall mining methods. The average production rate is approximately 7.0 million tons <br />per year from the "B", "E", and "F" coal seams and is approved to reach a maximum <br />production rate of 8.5 million tons per year. <br />The original mining plan for portions of Federal leases C-1362, C-0117192, and <br />• D-044569 at the West Elk Mine was approved on July 15, 1981. Since that approval, <br />there have been eleven (11) mining plan modifications for the West Elk mine. <br />A mining plan modification for portions of Federal leases C-1362, C-0117192, and <br />D-044569 was approved on August 16, 1985. A mining plan modification for a portion <br />of Federal lease C-1362 was approved on September 27, 1985. A mining plan <br />modification for portions of Federal leases C-1362, C-0117192, and D-044569 was <br />approved on November 18, 1985. A mining plan modification for portions of Federal <br />leases C-1362, C-0117192, and D-044569 was approved on December 22, 1986. A <br />mining plan modification for new Federal lease COC-54558 was approved on December <br />21, 1994. A mining plan modification for a portion of Federal lease C-1362 and a portion <br />of new Federal lease COC-56447 was approved on April 26, 1996. A mining plan <br />modification for the remainder of Federal lease COC-56447 was approved on June 13, <br />2000. A mining plan modification for new Federal lease COC-67011 was approved on <br />June 21, 2005. A mining plan modification for the remainder of Federal lease C-1362 <br />was approved on June 30, 2006. A mining plan modification for the construction of the <br />Deer Creek Shaft (and Escapeway) on Federal lease C-1362 was approved on October 31, <br />2007. A mining plan modification for new Federal lease COC-67232 was approved on <br />June 10, 2008. <br />The State's current permit area covers 17,154.90 acres and 402.25 surface acres are <br />currently disturbed within the permit area.