La Plata County planning officials are considering leveling new regulations on the King II Coal Mine on County Road 120.

The mine started operating in 2007, and at the time La Plata County officials believed that they did not have jurisdiction to regulate surface activities because it is on state land, County Planner Daniel Murray said.

Now, county officials have found they can require GCC Energy to go through the local permitting process and may require the firm to take steps to reduce its impacts on the surface, according to county documents.

The company also has applied with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to expand its lease holdings, but the county is considering only current land uses.

The federal agency also is considering the company’s request to expand its lease holdings to 952 sub-surface acres. The BLM plans to issue an environmental analysis in the beginning of the year, and the local office will take public comment on that document, Murray said.

County officials did not address the permit for the King II mine at 6 p.m. Thursday at the La Plata County Courthouse, as previously announced. The formal public hearing will be rescheduled for a later date that has yet to be decided.

Officials from GCC Energy will hold a meeting to address residents Dec. 18 at the Fort Lewis Mesa Elementary School.

mshinn@durangoherald.com