Public scoping begins on proposed coal mining activities

GRAND JUNCTION, CO – CAM Colorado, LLC (CAM) is proposing to construct an underground coal mine with associated buildings, roads, and a railroad spur that crosses public and private land near Loma, Colorado. Area residents and other interested members of the public will have the opportunity to meet with and ask questions of the project team – the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), CAM, and URS, the project consultant – at an open house on August 24, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Fruita Civic Center, 325 E. Aspen. This open house is part of the 45-day public scoping comment period, which closes on Monday, September 11, 2006.

The purpose of this public meeting is to provide information about the project and to gather input from the public in identifying the environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic issues and concerns to be considered during the environmental review process, anticipated to take at least 18 months. There will be a brief presentation on the hour followed by an open house with information stations, allowing for attendees to come and go at their convenience.

The Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed underground Red Cliff Coal Mine was published in the July 27, 2006 Federal Register by the BLM Grand Junction Field Office. BLM will direct URS in the preparation of the EIS, which will also address right-of-way and land use applications for facilities on federal lands. The EIS will be funded by CAM, the project proponent and applicant.

“CAM seeks to construct several new facilities related to the proposed expansion of their existing coal mining operations located in the Book Cliffs near the base of Douglas Pass,” Grand Junction Field Manager Catherine Robertson said. “Through the development of this EIS, local communities and concerned citizens will have plenty of opportunities to be heard and to get involved in the process.”

The EIS will identify and analyze potential impacts of this proposed project to both private and federal lands. Proposed development of surface facilities associated with the proposed coal mine includes roads, a water pipeline, coal stockpile and waste disposal areas, a coal preparation plant, the mine portal, other administrative and operations facilities, and a railroad spur line. The spur line would begin approximately 2 miles east of the intersection of Highway 139 and Mitchell Road, and run southwesterly toward Loma, Colorado, to connect to the existing Union Pacific Railroad line at Mack. The proposed route would cross approximately 8 miles of the western end of the North Fruita Desert Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA).

Cooperating agencies involved in the EIS include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Office of Surface Mining, the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Mesa County, and Garfield County.

The BLM’s multiple-use mission is accomplished by managing such activities as mineral development, outdoor recreation, and livestock grazing, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands. For additional information on this EIS, contact David Lehmann at (970) 244-3021.

-BLM-