Interior Department Approves Fence Lake Mining Plan
special provisions will protect sacred sites and water supplies

WASHINGTON --Interior's Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Rebecca Watson today announced approval of the Salt River Project (SRP) Agriculture Improvement and Power District's Fence Lake Mining Plan in New Mexico.

"Our approval of this project includes special provisions in the plan to address the concerns of the pueblos and tribes," Assistant Secretary Watson said. "These special provisions will protect sacred sites and water supplies while providing the coal needed for energy."

Located in Catron and Cibola Counties, the Fence Lake mine project, as planned allows for the mining of leased federal coal, which comprises about 48 percent of the coal reserve at the mine, or 39 million tons. Coal from the mine is shipped to the SRP Coronado Generating Station near St. Johns, Ariz.

In addition to standard conditions that are part of every mining plan decision, special provisions have been attached to the SRP plan to address the concerns of the Zuni Pueblo and other pueblos and tribes in the area about potential adverse effects on the Zuni Salt Lake and other sacred sites in the area. Other special provisions address use of the Atarque Aquifer for mining purposes.

The special provisions are:

*  Prohibit water withdrawal from the Dakota, San Andreas and Glorieta aquifers in
   New Mexico for mining, reclamation and related purposes

*  Require ongoing monitoring of the Dakota aquifer at three wells

*  Ensure that copies of monitoring reports are provided to the Zuni Pueblo

*  Allow water withdrawal from the Atarque Aquifer for mining and reclamation purposes

*  Require a long-term pump test of the Atarque Aquifer

*  Require ongoing monitoring of the Atarque Aquifer at least one well

*  Ensure that a traditional cultural properties plan (TCP) will be developed and any new
   information concerning specific TCPs provided during the ongoing consultation
   process will be taken into account

* Ensure that any human remains encountered during excavation or discovery will be
  treated  in accordance with applicable laws or with measures provided for in the
  Memorandum of Agreement on Human Burials

* Require that the mine operator consult with interested Indian Tribes in the
  development of a cultural resources awareness program for employees
  and contractors at the Fence Lake mine; and

* Specify that the Secretary of the Interior retains the authority and jurisdiction
   to modify or cancel the mining plan, if necessary, in order to protect Indian trust
   resources, cultural resources, traditional cultural properties or the Zuni Salt Lake.

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