GENERAL40407

• Permit No: C1981020
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Name: FINDINGS SALT CRK MINING CO MUNGER CYN MINE APPLICATION FOR MINING & RECLAMATION PLAN
• Permit Index Doc Type: GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

. FINDINGS ~ III III IIIIIIIIIIIII
Salt Creek Mining Company sss
Munger Canyon Mine
Application for Mining and Reclamation Plan
. In accordance with 30 CFR 786.14 and subject to the applicant's compliance
with the stipulations in the permit, the following findings have been made:
1. The plan and the
updated through November 8,
of the Surface Mining Cont
State Program, the Federal
Mineral Leasing Act, have
permit application submitted February 6, 1981 and
1982 is accurate and complete and all requirements
rol and Reclamation Act (the "Act"), the Colorado
Lands Program, and all other laws, including the
been complied with (see Technical Analysis [TA]
2. The applicant has demonstrated that surface mining and reclamation
operations, as required by the Act, the Colorado State Program, and the
Federal Lands Program, can be feasibly accomplished under the mining and rec-
lamation operations plan contained in the application.[786.19(b)] (See Section
(XXVII) p.(41) of the Technical Analysis [TA] ie.,(Findings Document)
3. The assessment of the probable cumulative impacts of all anticipated
coal mining in the general area of the operations on the hydrologic balance
has been made by Office of Surface Mining and the Colorado Mined Land Recla-
mation Division (CMLRD). Munger Canyon Mine is a dry mine with no aquifers
located on the permit area. The environment is semi-arid with deeply incised
cliffs and high gradient ephemeral stream channels that favor runoff rather
than infiltration. No perennial streams are found over the permit area.
Munger Creek, located down gradient from the mine site, is an ephemeral creek
• that will not be affected by mining operations since the mine has not been
producing any water nor are there any known overlying aquifers in the area.
A11 surface water drainage from the portal, bench, and road will be directed
to a 10 year, 24 hour sediment pond. All channel water, if any, will be
directed away from the disturbed area. The Munger Canyon Mine is presently
idle. When companies with negotiated contracts start requesting coal, the
mine will commence production. The adjacent McClane Canyon Mine is mining
coal for the spot market and can be expected to be permanently closed within 5
years. Both operations are owned by the Salt Creek Mining Company and their
leases are adjacent. The Salt Creek Mining Company possesses the only leases
in the Salt Creek drainage. Munger and McClane Canyon Mines are the only
mines in the Salt Creek Drainage and no other mines are anticipated. The
closest mine is about 10 miles away in a completely different drainage with no
possible hydrologic connection with the Munger and McClane Canyon Mines. The
operations proposed under the application have been designed to prevent damage
to the hydrologic balance to the East Salt Creek (see Sec. IV) page (23) of
the TA) [2.07.6(2)(c), 186.19(c)].
4. After reviewing the description of the proposed permit area, CMLRD
and OSM determined that this area is:
(a) Not included within an area designated unsuitable for surface
coal mining operations, (see Sec. XXVI, page 40 of the TA)[2.07.6(2)(d)(i)].
(b) Not within an area under study for designating lands unsuitable
for surface coal mining operations since the mine existed prior to the
enactment of PL-95-87, (see Sec. XXVI, page 40 of the TA).[2.07.6(2)(d)(ii)].
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