2010-01-25_PERMIT FILE - C1981044A (5)

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Work Force Previously, the EC operation employed approximately 172 employees to produce two million tons of coal per year. • Presently EC is in a state of temporary cessation and will continue in this mode until market conditions improve. If mining operations were to resume, it is anticipated that the production level would be approximately four million tons per year. Employment at the EC operation would increase to about 280 employees. It is also projected that employment would remain steady through the subsequent 15 to 20 years. EC is very sensitive to the social and economic effects that coal mining may have on the standard of living on northwestern Colorado. Coal mining, energy production, ranching, and farming; have been closely related to this area since before the turn of the century. With continued operation of the EC Mine, the economies of both Moffat and Routt County would definitely be positively impacted. Northwestern Colorado, especially the City of Craig, would benefit from resumption of operations, as a result of the salaries, wages, and tax base realized. Size and Configuration of Planned Operations The Eagle No. 5, 6, and 9 Mines were the previous underground coal mining operations. The "F" Coal Seam, was mined in the No. 5 Mine, the "E" Coal Seam was mined in the No. 6 Mine, and the "P" Coal Seam was mined in the No. 9 Mine. At full production, the Eagle Mines had the capability to produce approximately four million tons of coal annually. The primary mining method utilized in both the No. 5 and No. 6 Mines was longwall mining. Longwall mining in the No. 5 Mine was completed in early 1990, and full production in the No. 6 Mine began later that same year. The No. 5 Mine longwall equipment was moved to the No. 6 Mine. All coal mined at the No. 5 and No. 6 Mines was loaded on unit trains at the mine facility area and hauled by rail to market. Coal processing facilities located at the EC site are described within the operations plan of this application, pages 2.05.3 -26 through 2.05.3 -29. Compliance with Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act To facilitate review of this permit revision, EC held meetings with the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division ( CMLRD or Division) staff during the spring of 1986 for the purpose of discussing and reaching some understanding concerning permit format, as well as information requirements concerning hydrology and potential impacts from mine subsidence. The permit revision preparation efforts of EC relied partially on discussions held during these meetings. Also, it must be emphasized that the CMLRD has significant familiarity with EC's operations. Organization of Permit Application With the decision in early 1985 by EC management to implement a more efficient mining method at the Eagle No. 5 mine ( longwall), management also decided to update and reorganize the permit into a more workable, efficient document. Also, due to new contractual agreements with coal buyers, it was decided to include the new life -of- mine plan into the updated permit document. As a result, EC submitted an updated and reorganized version of Permit No. C -81 -044. EC carefully chose the format and organization for the application to provide easy reference to specific sections of the Colorado Regulations. Although Rule 4 has been addressed within the text, cross - references have been furnished to avoid redundancy and to facilitate review. Supplemental information not included in the typed text is set forth as tables ,figures, maps, or exhibits. A comprehensive listing of the text, figures, tables, maps, and exhibits, has been included in each volume of the permit application. A separate volume, Exhibit 35 - Confidential Material, has been provided which contains all information that EC considers confidential, consistent with applicable regulatory confidentiality provisions. • MR09 -48 -2- 10/26/09