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Introduction <br />This document is the decision package prepared by the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and <br />Safety (Division) for the Bear No. 3 Mine Permit Renewal No. 5. This document includes the proposed <br />decision to approve the permit renewal application; a summary which includes a history of the review of <br />the permit application, a description of the environment to be affected by the operation, and a description <br />of the mining and reclamation plan; and the written findings of compliance the Division has made as <br />required by the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act. Detailed information concerning the <br />findings of compliance can be found in the Rules and Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land <br />Reclamation Board for Coal Mining. <br />Bear Coal Company submitted an application for a successive five-year renewal of Permit No. C-81-033 <br />to conduct reclamation operations at the Bear No. 3 Mine. The partially reclaimed mine will continue to <br />be operated by Bear Coal Company. The mine is located on and/or under federal and private lands within <br />Gunnison County, Colorado. The legal description of the lands in the permit area is as follows: - <br />Township 13 South, Ranee 90 West. 6th P.M. <br />Section 8: S/2 SE/4 South of the River <br />Section 16: W/2 NW/4, NW/4 NE/4 NW/4, S/2 NE/4 NW/4, SEA NW/4, NW/4 <br /> SWA, W/2 NEA SW/4 W/2 SWA SWA <br />Section 17: All except portions of the N/2 NW/4 <br /> and except portions of the NW/4 NEA <br />Section 18: SE/4 SEA, NE/4 SEA, SEA NE/4 <br />Section 20: N/2 NEA, N/2 SEA NE/4, N/2 NW/4 NW/4, N/2 NE/4 NW/4, SE/4 <br /> NEA NW/4 <br />Section 21: W/2 NW/4 NW/4, NW/4 SW/4 NW/4 <br />Proposed Decision <br />The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety proposes to approve an application for <br />renewal of a valid, existing permit for the Bear No. 3 Mine. This decision is based on a finding that the <br />operation will comply with all requirements of the Colorado State Program as found in the Colorado <br />Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act, C.R.S. 34-33-101, et seq., and the Regulations promulgated <br />pursuant to the Act. If no request for a formal hearing is made within thirty (30) days of the first <br />publication of this proposed decision, then this decision becomes final. The permit application and all <br />supporting documentation will become a binding part of the permit. A record of all previously required <br />permit stipulations can be found within the Division files. Stipulation No. 6 was terminated on June 17, <br />2009 because the submittal of an annual hydrologic report which it required is already required by Rule <br />4.05.13(4)(c). All stipulations have been resolved. <br />Summary <br />The Review Process <br />The Bear Coal Company operation currently consists of one inactive and partially reclaimed underground <br />mine, the Bear No. 3 Mine. Bear Coal Company used to operate two other underground coal mines, the