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Since the original approval of the mining plan, there has been one <br /> revision to the permit which was approved by Colorado in September <br /> 1984. <br /> The permit revision area associated with this mining plan <br /> modification contains approximately 4,125 acres, of which 2,362 <br /> acres are Federal lands including 2,362 acres of leased Federal coal <br /> which are in the mining plan modification area. Including the <br /> permit revision area associated with this mining plan, as modified, <br /> the Coal Basin mines permit area will contain approximately 11,340 <br /> acres, of which 5,585 acres are Federal lands including 5,425 acres <br /> of leased Federal coal. Upon approval of this mining plan, as <br /> modified, the approved mining plan area for the Coal Basin mines <br /> will contain approximately 5,585 acres including all or portions of <br /> Federal leases C-0125457, C-011646, C-09004, C-09005, C-0115606, <br /> C-0125456, C-030345, and C-012640. This modification does not <br /> involve any additional surface disturbance. <br /> Under this approval, mining is anticipated to proceed until 2023. <br /> The PAP indicated that mining operations for the life of the Coal <br /> Basin mines would cease around the year 2023 and would affect <br /> approximately 11,340 acres, of which 5,425 acres are leased Federal <br /> coal lands. I am recommending approval for the area to be mined <br /> over the life of the Coal Basin mines based on the environmental <br /> assessment and the adequacy of the data and information provided by <br /> Mid-Continent Resources in the PAP. <br /> The underground mining operations principally will utilize room and <br /> pillar and longwall mining methods. The Coal Basin (B bed) and <br /> Dutch Creek (Middle bed) coal seams will be mined at a production <br /> rate of approximately 800,000 to 1,300,000 tons per year. All <br /> mining and reclamation operations are scheduled to cease around the <br /> year 2023. This mining operation will not affect any <br /> environmentally-sensitive areas. <br /> During the review of the PAP the following major issues were <br /> identified. <br /> 1) The company requested a small area exemption from constructing a <br /> sediment pond on the southeast side of the inactive #4 bench. <br /> Colorado MLRD granted this exemption on the following <br /> conditions: a) it only applies as long as mine #4 is inactive, <br /> b) the disturbed drainage area is small, c) the mine bench is <br /> largely composed of coarse rock material, and d) there is no <br /> mine discharge with surface drainage. (See page 16 of TA) <br /> 2) The company requested small area exemptions also from <br /> constructing sediment ponds on: a) the mine #3 upper coal <br /> storage bin pad (0.12 acres), b) the mine #4 lower coal storage <br /> bin pad (0.44 acres) , and c) mine #1 powder magazine, mine #4 <br />