Trapper Mine, Federal Coal Leases C07519 and C079641, Mining Plan Modification Environmental Assessment

Welcome to the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) Trapper Mine, Federal Coal Leases C07519 and C079641, Mining Plan Modification Environmental Assessment (EA) webpage. Here you will be able to view and download all documents relating to this EA as they become available to the public. For more information about this project, open or download and view documents as they become available in the Document Library.

AVAILABLE EA

The OSMRE is responsible for reviewing plans to conduct coal mining and reclamation operations on lands containing leased federal coal. Pursuant to 30 CFR 746, the OSMRE must prepare and submit to the Secretary of the Interior a decision document recommending approval, disapproval or approving with condition(s) of the proposed mining plan modification.

Trapper Mining Inc. (TMI) operates the Trapper Mine, a surface coal mine located 6 miles south of the town of Craig in Moffat County, Colorado, east of Colorado Highway 13.

OSMRE has completed an Environmental Assessment (EA), which analyzes the potential environmental effects that may result from approval of the mining plan modification for federal coal leases C-079641 and C-07519. OSMRE concluded that Alternative A the Proposed Action would meet the agency’s purpose and need. Alternative A would authorize TMI to conduct surface coal mining on approximately 19.1 million tons (mt) of federal coal at a maximum rate of 2.6 million tons per year(mtpy) and with a surface disturbance of 1,321 acres, including 257 acres of previously undisturbed land and 11 acres of re-disturbance of reclaimed land. Approximately 19 mt of federal coal will be extracted at a maximum rate of 2.6 mtpy from 2015 until the end of mining in about 2025 depending upon the coal delivery schedule.

OSMRE has also made available the FONSI for the approval of the mine plan modification which will allow TMI to continue operations. OSMRE determined that Alternative A does not constitute a major federal action having significant effect on the human environment; therefore, an EIS is not required.