_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981017 (219)

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Summary History of the Review Process On May 31 , 1983, the Coal Basin Mines were issued a permanent program permit C-81-017 for a five year term. In accordance with Rule 2.08.5, the Division notified Mid-Continent Resources , Inc. , the Permittee, of the need to renew the existing permit on August 6, 1987. The application for renewal was deemed complete on December 1 , 1987. A preliminary adequacy letter was sent on February 2 , 1988. The first adequacy responses from Mid-Continent were received at the Division on March 8 , 1988. Several outstanding adequacy issues were still not resolved at the time of permit expiration, therefore, the Division granted, on May 31 , 1988, the right to continue mining operations under Rule 2 .08.5 (3 ) (f) until a final administrative decision could be made. Previous analyses of the Coal Basin mining and reclamation operation have included the original permitting review, mid-term review, and minor, technical ,and permit revision applications. The reader is directed to file No. C-81-017 for further specifics of these reviews. The entire permit application was resubmitted for this renewal , so the page references in the original findings might no longer be accurate in all cases. The new Table of Contents in the permit should be used to locate specific sections of the permit. Description of the Environment The original findings document contains a summary description of the mine site environment. There have been no changes in the areas to be mined or the findings pursuant to that description since the initial review. Mining and Reclamation Plan The operation description in the original findings document remains accurate. That description is herein updated as follows. The Rock Tunnel Project has been completed up to the approved development. However, final connection has been made to Mines 7#1 and 72 only. As .development of the other mines occurs , and interconnection is established, all coal could be brought out through the tunnel . At present, all coal is conveyed from the rock tunnel portal to the preparation plant by a system of overland conveyers. The off-highway diesel power trucks which originally transported the coal from the individual portals to the prep plant have been eliminated. The operator maintains the right to reintroduce the use of trucks, if the demand for coal from the outlying mines increases and development from the tunnel to these mines has not been completed.