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permitting responsibilities for operations on Federal lands pursuant <br /> to Section 523 of SMCRA, the previously issued Federal permit will <br /> be dissolved upon approval of this mining plan, as modified. The <br /> mining plan approval document contained herein reflects the mining <br /> plan as previously approved along with the modification recommended <br /> herein for approval. The mining plan approval document identifies <br /> the leased Federal coal lands in the previously approved mining plan <br /> area along with the leased Federal coal lands recommended for <br /> approval with this modification. <br /> Colorado MLRD has reviewed the PAP associated with this mining plan <br /> modification under the Colorado State program, the Federal lands <br /> program (30 CFR Chapter VII, Subchapter D), and the Colorado <br /> Cooperative Agreement (30 CFR 906.30), and has recommended approval <br /> of the mining plan, as modified. Pursuant to the Colorado State <br /> program and the cooperative agreement, Colorado MLRD approved the <br /> permit revision for the proposed operations at the Coal Basin mines <br /> on March 17, 1986. <br /> The operation and reclamation plan portion of the PAP was reviewed <br /> by OSMRE, in consultation with other Federal agencies, for <br /> compliance with SMCRA, the Federal lands program, and all other <br /> requirements of applicable Federal laws. The resource recovery and <br /> protection plan was reviewed by the Bureau of Land Management for <br /> compliance with the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, and 43 <br /> CFR Part 3480. <br /> The mining plan approval document included with this memorandum will <br /> be in conformance with the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, <br /> the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), the <br /> Federal lands program and other applicable Federal regulations, and <br /> the Colorado cooperative agreement. <br /> I recommend that you advise the Assistant Secretary for Land and <br /> Minerals Management, under 30 CFR Part 746, that the Mid-Continent <br /> Resources's Coal Basin mines mining plan, as modified, is ready for <br /> approval. I concur with Colorado MLRD that a bond in the amount of <br /> $2,555,875.00 is adequate. <br /> I have determined that approval of the mining plan, as modified, <br /> will not have a significant impact on the quality of the human <br /> environment. <br /> II. Background <br /> The Coal Basin mines are located in Pitkin County, Colorado, <br /> approximately 4 miles west of Redstone, which, in turn, is 31 miles <br /> south of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and has been operating since <br /> 1956. The mines were permitted under the approved Colorado State <br /> program in July 1983. The mining plan for the Coal Basin mines was <br /> originally approved under the Federal lands program in July 1983• <br />