OSMRE to increase acreage of San Juan coal mine area
Published by Stephanie Roker,
Editor
World Coal,
The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is considering a plan to add approximately 4465 acres to the approved mining plan area of the San Juan Mine in New Mexico. The proposed action would add approximately 10 - 15 years to the life of the underground mine, authorising the mining of approximately 53 million t of Federal coal. The underground facility is located about 16 miles west of the city of Farmington in San Juan County and currently employs 282 people. The mine is projected to produce an average of 3 million tpy.
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), OSMRE will publish a draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the San Juan mine deep lease extension mine plan modification. The DEIS analyses the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of the proposed underground mining operations, alternatives, and the potential coal combustion related impacts at the San Juan generating station.
The Notice of Availability for the DEIS will be published in the Federal Register on Friday 25 May 2018. The publication opens a 45 day comment period, closing on 9 July 2018. OSMRE will also hold five public meetings on the DEIS between 25 June and 29 June 2018. The Bureau will also announce the times and locations of the public meetings in the Federal Register on Friday, 25 May 2018. Following the close of the public comment period, OSMRE will review all comments received, develop responses, and revise the EIS as necessary. The final EIS is scheduled for release in February 2019. OSMRE expects to issue a Record of Decision in March 2019.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/exploration-and-development/25052018/osmre-to-increase-acreage-of-san-juan-coal-mine-area/
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