US Department of the Interior approves Colowyo mine plan

Following the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement’s (OSM) counsel notifying the court that it has completed the environmental review and approved a modified mining plan, the US Department of the Interior has approved and signed a modified mine plan for Colowyo mine in Colorado. This is in order to comply with the court’s order to complete the environmental review within 120 days.

The OSM has also completed a new environmental assessment for the mine, finding no significant impact on the environment from mining operations.

"We are grateful to the staff at the Office of Surface Mining and the other cooperating agencies for their diligence and hard work to complete the environmental review within the short timeframe ordered by the judge," said Mike McInnes, CEO of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, which owns Colowyo mine through its subsidiary, Colowyo Coal Co.

"The unwavering support we have received from our 220 mine employees, the community and elected officials across Colorado helped ensure the Department of the Interior, from Secretary Jewell down, committed the resources and time necessary to complete this important work," added McInnes.

"The approval of the new plan should provide our employees and the residents of Moffat, Rio Blanco and Routt counties with the confidence to move forward and focus on the future," said Chris McCourt, Colowyo mine's Manager.

Edited from press release by Harleigh Hobbs

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/mining/07092015/us-department-of-the-interior-approves-colowyo-mine-plan-2822/