RBC I Trapper Mining on Monday called on the northwest Colorado community and energy consumers across Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West to review and provide comment on a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) developed for Trapper Mining by the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE). The draft EA was developed in response to a lawsuit brought by WildEarth Guardians.
The release of the draft EA starts a public comment period that runs until Feb. 19. A Stand with Trapper’s web site at www.standwithtrapper.com includes information about mailing letters to OSMRE and provides a link to email comments directly to the federal agency. The draft EA and information about the Trapper review is available on OSMRE’s website at www.wrcc.osmre.gov/initiatives/trappermine.shtm.
Jim Mattern, Trapper Mining’s president and general manager, called for all supporters to send comments to OSMRE.
“We ask that Trapper’s supporters across Colorado and the West take a stand on behalf of Trapper’s workers and their families, the positive impact Trapper makes to the community, the mine’s nationally recognized environmental stewardship and reclamation efforts—and Trapper’s vital role in fueling affordable and reliable electricity. The agency’s successful and timely completion of this Environmental Assessment and ample public comments are vital to Trapper’s future.”
Trapper Mining Inc. operates a surface coal-mining operation in Craig, Colo. Opened in 1977, Trapper produces approximately 2.3 million tons of coal each year and supplies about half of the coal for its only customer, the Craig Generating Station. Trapper Mining is owned by four entities: Tri-State Generation and Transmission and Platte River Power Authority, both based in Colorado, Arizona’s Salt River Project and Oregon-based PacifiCorp.
Trapper Mining has more than 180 employees, spanning multiple generations and each with deep roots in the Craig community and northwest Colorado.
The company contributes significantly to the Moffat County and Craig community. In 2014, Trapper Mining’s contribution included more than $22 million in wages and benefits for its employees, who also live in surrounding counties, including Rio Blanco, and more than $10 million in local, state and federal taxes and royalties.
Trapper is proud of its commitment to Colorado’s natural environment, Mattern said.
Trapper’s nationally recognized stewardship and reclamation efforts include the Bronze Award from the Office of Surface Mining as one of the best three examples of mine reclamation in the United States during the 25-year modern coal mining era, selected from among 1,400 coal mines.
