GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Montana Coal Mine Permit Boundaries, 2006

Data Provider Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
Date 06/2006
Content Type Downloadable Data
Abstract Surface and underground mining operations for coal extraction are allowed within specified permit boundaries. The State of Montana issues operating permits for designated time periods, normally 5 years. Boundaries and time periods are subject to change. These data represent the best current information available to the Industrial and Energy Minerals Bureau (IEMB) of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).This data set displays the permit boundaies for the approved coal mining operations in the State of Montana. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulates coal mining and subsequent reclamation operations under authority of the Federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) and the State Montana Strip and Underground Mine Reclamation Act, 82-4-201 et seq, MCA (Montana Code Annotated) (ARM 17.24.301-1309).Permit boundaries may be amended or altered as mining and reclamation operations proceed. Some mine permits, such as the Spring Creek and West Decker permits, overlap in several areas due to shared soil stockpiles and similar features. Overlaps may be added or removed as necessary with the approval of the IEMB.
Purpose This data set portrays the legally authorized permit boundaries for surface and underground coal mine disturbance areas in the State of Montana. These boundaries represent currently active mines and recently decommissioned mines undergoing reclamation operations. After coal extraction operations are completed in designated sections of permit areas, reclamation is required by Federal and State law to restore land and environmental conditions to an approved approximation of premine conditions. Bonds are required in order to ensure that reclamation efforts are performed adequately. Bond release typically proceeds through four phases as the landscape is reclaimed. Bonds are normally required for entire permit areas, but incremental bond amounts may be released by Montana DEQ as smaller areas are approved to meet reclamation requirements.
Supplemental Information This data were generally extracted from Autocad DWG format drawing files supplied by coal mine operators. In some cases, conversion to an ArcInfo coverage was first necessary in order to Transform local mine survey coordinates to a conventional projection system of Montana State Plane, NAD 83 (FIPS Zone 2500) with linear units of meters. For some mines, only paper maps were available, and data were created by scanning those maps, georeferencing the resulting images, manually creating vector features by Heads Up Digitizing (HUD), and snapping features to section lines where applicable. This technique produces approximate positional information. These data were compiled from survey or mapping measurements performed in a variety of custom local coordinate systems and several different standard projection systems. Changes in coordinate systems necessarily introduce some small discrepancies, particularly for Transformations of local survey systems. For purposes requiring extremely high accuracy, additional location information should be collected with GPS measurements or by a survey conducted by a licensed land surveyor.
The Montana State Library provides this product/service for informational purposes only. The Library did not produce it for, nor is it suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes. Consumers of this information should review or consult the primary data and information sources to ascertain the viability of the information for their purposes. The Library provides these data in good faith but does not represent or warrant its accuracy, adequacy, or completeness. In no event shall the Library be liable for any incorrect results or analysis; any direct, indirect, special, or consequential damages to any party; or any lost profits arising out of or in connection with the use or the inability to use the data or the services provided. The Library makes these data and services available as a convenience to the public, and for no other purpose. The Library reserves the right to change or revise published data and/or services at any time.
Data Access https://ftpgeoinfo.msl.mt.gov/Data/Spatial/NonMSDI/Shapefiles/Coal_Permits_2006.zip
Distributor Montana State Library
PO Box 201800
Helena, MT 59620-1800
Telephone: 406-444-5354
TDD/TTY: Montana Relay 711
Fax: 406-444-0266
Email: geoinfo@mt.gov
Distribution liability The Montana State Library provides this product/service for informational purposes only. The Library did not produce it for, nor is it suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes. Consumers of this information should review or consult the primary data and information sources to ascertain the viability of the information for their purposes. The Library provides these data in good faith but does not represent or warrant its accuracy, adequacy, or completeness. In no event shall the Library be liable for any incorrect results or analysis; any direct, indirect, special, or consequential damages to any party; or any lost profits arising out of or in connection with the use or the inability to use the data or the services provided. The Library makes these data and services available as a convenience to the public, and for no other purpose. The Library reserves the right to change or revise published data and/or services at any time.
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Metadata date 01/10/2014

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