The Assistant Secretary of the Department of Land and Minerals Management has issued an approved mining plan modification to allow continued development of Federal coal at the King II Coal mine, which is located about 4 miles southwest of Hesperus (Colorado). OSMRE conducted an environmental assessment (EA) of the project and found no significant impact associated with the expansion of the mine area.
The modification to the mining plan will add approximately 590 ac. to the approved mining plan area for the underground mine, and will allow mining of approximately 2.7 million t of Federal coal. The action will add approximately 3 - 4 years to the life of the mine.
The mine is projected to produce, on average, 1.07 million tpy, with a maximum production rate of 1.3 million tpy. The mine currently employs 88 people.
The King II Mine permit provides for a post-mine land use of rangeland and wildlife habitat which will continue with this modification.
OSMRE holds a reclamation performance bond in the amount of US$32 555 on the site. Reclamation performance bonds are held to ensure that post-mining reclamation of the site is carried out if a company cannot carry out its legally required reclamation obligations.