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MCM began mining in the Eagle No. 5 Mine in 1972 and continued through 1995, when operations went into <br />temporary cessation. The No. 5 Mine ( "F" Coal Seam) utilized room- and - pillar methods until 1985, when <br />• economics dictated a change to longwall mining methods. <br />Work Force <br />Previously, the MCM operation employed approximately 172 employees to produce two million tons of coal per <br />year. Presently MCM is in a state of temporary cessation and will continue in this mode until market conditions <br />improve. If mining operations were to resume, it is anticipated that the production level would be approximately <br />four million tons per year. Employment at the EC operation would increase to about 280 employees. It is also <br />projected that employment would remain steady through the subsequent 15 to 20 years. <br />MCM is very sensitive to the social and economic effects that coal mining may have on the standard of living on <br />northwestern Colorado. Coal mining, energy production, ranching, and farming; have been closely related to this <br />area since before the turn of the century. With continued operation of the MCM Mine, the economies of both <br />Moffat and Routt County would definitely be positively impacted. Northwestern Colorado, especially the City of <br />Craig, would benefit from resumption of operations, as a result of the salaries, wages, and tax base realized. <br />Size and Configuration of Planned Operations <br />The Eagle No. 5, 6, and 9 Mines were the previous underground coal mining operations. The "F" Coal Seam, was <br />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 <br />the No. 9 Mine. At full production, the Eagle Mines had the capability to produce approximately four million tons <br />of coal annually. The primary mining method utilized in both the No. 5 and No. 6 Mines was longwall mining. <br />Longwall mining in the No. 5 Mine was completed in early 1990, and full production in the No. 6 Mine began later <br />that same year. The No. 5 Mine longwall equipment was moved to the No. 6 Mine. <br />• 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 <br />market. Coal processing facilities located at the MCM site are described within the operations plan of this <br />application, pages 2.05.3 -26 through 2.05.3 -29. <br />Hance with Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act <br />To facilitate review of this permit revision, MCM held meetings with the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation <br />Division ( CMLRD or Division) staff during the spring of 1986 for the purpose of discussing and reaching some <br />understanding concerning permit format, as well as information requirements concerning hydrology and potential <br />impacts from mine subsidence. The permit revision preparation efforts of EC relied partially on discussions held <br />during these meetings. Also, it must be emphasized that the CMLRD has significant familiarity with MCM's <br />operations. <br />Organization of Permit Application <br />With the decision in early 1985 by MCM management to implement a more efficient mining method at the Eagle <br />No. 5 mine ( longwall), management also decided to update and reorganize the permit into a more workable, <br />efficient document. Also, due to new contractual agreements with coal buyers, it was decided to include the new <br />life -of -mine plan into the updated permit document. As a result, MCM submitted an updated and reorganized <br />version of Permit No. C -81 -044. MCM carefully chose the format and organization for the application to provide <br />easy reference to specific sections of the Colorado Regulations. Although Rule 4 has been addressed within the <br />text, cross - references have been furnished to avoid redundancy and to facilitate review. <br />•Supplemental information not included in the typed text is set forth as tables, figures, maps, or exhibits. A <br />comprehensive listing of the text, figures, tables, maps, and exhibits, has been included in each volume of the <br />permit application. A separate volume, Exhibit 35 - Confidential Material, has been provided which contains all <br />information that MCM considers confidential, consistent with applicable regulatory confidentiality provisions. <br />MR 10 -49 -2- 02/01/11 <br />