The El Segundo Mine is located in the southeastern plains of the San Juan Basin, bordered by the uplands of Chacra Mesa to the northwest, Mt. Taylor volcanic area and San Mateo Dome to the southeast, and the Zuni Uplift and Rutria Monocline to the southwest. The tectonic setting is uncomplicated with the beds dipping gently to the northeast into the San Juan Basin at a rate slightly greater than one degree. Geologic formations present at El Segundo are the basal Mesa Verde Group, Point Lookout sandstones, and the Menefee Formation coals and shales. In this area of the San Juan Basin, the Menefee Formation is divided into the upper barren Allison Member and the basal, carboniferous Cleary Member.

The Cleary member of the Menefee formation contains the mineable coal seams. There are 1 to 9 seams, varying from 1 to 17 feet in thickness that could be recovered. The primary recoverable seams are the blue and green followed by the tan and brown seams. The upper overburden is mostly sandstone with some shale. Once the upper tan seam is encountered, interburden and partings tend towards interbedded sandstones, siltstones, mudstone and shales to the lower recoverable green seam. The typical geologic column shows approximately 230 feet of overburden and interburden to the bottom of the lower recoverable green seam.

The topography at the El Segundo Mine is described as low cuestas and shallow drainages. The permit area is bisected north to south by the Continenta ........

El Segundo is a terraced, advancing open pit mine. Coal would be recovered from up to nine seams, which range in thickness from 1 to 17 feet. Coal quality varies, requiring that coal be blended to produce a shippable product. To achieve appropriate blending, multiple areas of the mine are developed to assure that adequate quantities are available for blending and stockpiles are maintained. Approximately 8,000 acres will be disturbed by mining activities over the life of the mine.

Open pits are backfilled with unconsolidated spoil resulting from the removed strata.

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