UNITED STATES

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

This mining plan approval document is issued by the United States of America to: 

Spring Creek Coal, LLC.

2518 Windmill Road

P.O. Box 67

Decker, MT 59025

for a mining plan modification for Federal Lease MTM-069782 at the Spring Creek Mine. This 

mining plan approval supplements all previous mining plan approvals for the Spring Creek Mine. 

The approval is subject to the following conditions. Spring Creek Coal, LLC is hereinafter 

referred to as the operator.

1. Statutes and Regulations: This mining plan approval is issued pursuant to Federal Lease 

MTM-069782; the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended (30 U.S.C. § 181 et seq.); and 

in the case of acquired lands, the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands of 1947, as 

amended (30 U.S.C. § 351 et seq.). This mining plan approval is subject to all applicable 

laws and regulations of the Secretary of the Interior which are now or hereafter in force; and 

all such laws and regulations are made part hereof. The operator shall comply with the 

provisions of the Federal Water Pollution and Control Act (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.), the 

Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq.), and other applicable Federal laws. 

2. This document approves the mining plan modification for Federal Lease MTM-069782 at 

the Spring Creek Mine and authorizes coal development or mining operations on the Federal 

lease within the area of mining approval. This authorization expands the approved mining 

plan area into the following Federal coal lands:

MTM-069782

T.8 S., R.40 E., P.M.M.

Sec. 31: Lots 2, 3, 4, NW1/4NE1/4SW1/4, S1/2NE1/4SW1/4, 

SE1/4SW1/4, NW1/4SW1/4SE1/4, S1/2SW1/4SE1/4, SW1/4SE1/4SE1/4

T.9 S., R.40 E., P.M.M.

Sec. 6: Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, SW1/4NE1/4, NW1/4SE1/4NE1/4, S1/2SE1/4 

NE1/4, N1/2SE1/4NW1/4, N1/2NE1/4SE1/4, NE1/4NW1/4SE1/4

These lands in Federal Lease MTM-069782 modification encompass 498.11 acres and are 

found on the United States Geological Service 7.5 minute Quadrangle map of Pearl School, 

Decker and Half Moon Hill as shown in the map appended hereto as Attachment A.

3. The operator shall conduct coal development or mining operations only as described in 

the complete permit application package, and approved by the Montana Department of 
Environmental Quality, except as otherwise directed in the conditions of this mining plan 

approval.

4. The operator shall comply with the terms and conditions of the Lease, this mining plan 

approval, and the requirements of Montana Permit No. C1979012 issued under the Montana

State Program, approved pursuant to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 

1977 (30 U.S.C. § 1201 et seq.).

5. This mining plan approval shall be binding on any person conducting coal development or 

mining operations under the approved mining plan and shall remain in effect until 

superseded, canceled, or withdrawn.

6. If, during mining operations, unidentified prehistoric resources are discovered, the operator 

shall ensure that the resources are not disturbed and shall notify the Montana Department of 

Environmental Quality and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. The 

operator shall take such actions as are required by the Montana Department of Environmental 

Quality in coordination with the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.

7. The Secretary retains jurisdiction to modify or cancel this approval, as required, on the basis 

of further consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service pursuant to section 7 of the 

Endangered Species Act, as amended, 16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq.

____________________________________ ________________

Casey Hammond Date

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary,

Exercising the authority of the Assistant Secretary

Land and Minerals Management

Attachment
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8

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T.

9

S.

R. 39 E. R. 40 E. 9 8

7

12 11 10 9

16

28

4

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33

21

314

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26

25 30

1

27

13

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34

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R. 39 E. R. 40 E.

T.

8

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S.

MTM-094378

MTM-110693

MTM-094378

MTM-094378

C-1100-00

C-1088-05

MTM- 069782

C-1099-00

C-1101-00 MTM-088405

PRIVATE

MTM-110692

MTM-069782

MTM-069782

MTM-069782

MTM-069782

MTM-069782

MTM-110692

MTM-110692

MTM-069782

Modification Area - LBM MTM-069782

Spring Creek Mine Permit Boundary

C-1088-95 MTM-069782 Federal Lease NumbersState Lease Numbers

MINING PLAN APPROVAL AREA(S)

LBM Federal Mining Plan

Currently Approved Mining Plan Area Spring Creek Mine

LEGEND

0 2,500 5,000 7,500 10,000

GRAPHIC SCALE (FEET)

No warranty is made by the OSMRE for the use of the data for purposes not

intended by the OSMRE.

DATE 06/20 December 2019 25' Contours

Attachment A