1983-09-01_PERMIT FILE - C1981017

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5) Mid Continent has requested a variance from approximate original contour (AOC) requirements based upon steep slope mining conditions. The majority of the surface facilities disturbances for roads and mine portal benches exist in areas of original slopes greater than 20°. The U.S. Forest Service has stated that they want certain roads left for access. The applicant has requested that these areas be returned to various post-mining topographic configurations. Some may differ from AOC. The request is deemed appropriate by CMLRD, but additional data and details are needed and are being stipulated. (see conditions). There is some private fee coal and Federal Coal along with both private and Federal surface within the permit boundary. The mine is located in the southwestern portion of Pitkin County, Colorado, approximately 4 miles west of Redstone. Redstone, in turn, is 31 miles south of Glenwood Springs via State Highways 82 and 133. All mine portals and surface facilities are located in Pitkin County and within the White River National Forest, while the underground workings extend into Gunnison County and the Gunnison National Forest. The 10,000 acre Coal Basin Mine operation includes 5 adjacent underground mines which currently produce approximately 800,000 to 1,300,000 tons per year. The maximum potential tonnage that could be mined is 2,450,000 tons per year. The total lease boundary is 10,000 acres. The permit and mining plan area is 7,220 acres. It must be noted that the BLM Onshore Solid Mineral Office concurrence letter discusses all Federal leases that Mid-Continent Resources Inc. will mine during the life-of-mine period. Portions of the following Federal leases will be mined during this 5-year permit term. They are: C-0011646, C-0125457, C-09004 and C-09005. The post-mining land use will be rangeland, watershed, fish and wildlife habitat and recreation. The applicant has proposed a postmine land use of a ski area for the Coal Basin permit area. This proposal is preliminary and has not been approved by the regulatory authority or the surface managing agency. A chronology of events related to this MRP application is enclosed. The BLM [formerly Minerals Management Services (MKS)] provided verbal concurrence on the Coal Basin submittal and written concurrence was received on May 31, 1983. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife was consulted regarding threatened and endangered species and concurred on March 31, 1983. White River National Forest (USFS) provided a concurrence letter to OSM on April 11, 1983. Gunnison National Forest (USFS) concurrence letter is forthcoming. The State Historic Preservation Officer provided written concurrence with OSM's finding of compliance with 36 CFR part 800 on March 18, 1981. Also see letter from the National Park Service on the National Register for Historic Places dated April 11, 1983. The State regulatory authority issued a permit with conditions on May 14, 1983. Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division has received no adverse comments on the recommendation for approval made public on April 14, 1983. The information in the Coal Basin Mining and Reclamation Plan, as well as other information documented in the recommendation package and made available to the applicant, has been reviewed by CMLRD staff in coordination with the OSM Project Leader, Bennett H. Young.