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~ B MINERALS & GEOLOGY Coal program receives national recognition. The Colorado Division of-Minerals and Geology is a partner in a program that received Vice President Al Gore's Hammer Award in July. The award honored the Department of the Interior's Office of Surface Mining (OSM) for a new oversight process of state coal mine regulatory programs which emphasizes on-the- ground results rather than administrative processes. The DMG/OSM oversight agreement was cited as a national exam- ple of how federal and state governments can successfully focus on reclamation results and foster a cooperative relationship. The Hammer A ward recognizes government agencies that "reinvent" themselves to provide more effective and efficient services. OSM and DMG developed state-specific evaluation plans tailored to the unique conditions of coal mining in . Colorado. DMG and OSM examined the coal program's suc- cess in regulating impacts to the hydrologic environment and construction of mine waste piles. Upper Animas Basin work conllnues. The Division of Minerals and Geology is actively participating in several pro- jects in the Upper Animas River Basin. A project to safeguard 50 hazardous openings on Mineral Creek is nearing completion. In July;: staff members conducted a reCOIll1aissance of several high mountain drainages to plan for next year's detailed water sampling and mine site characterization activities. In early September. they returned to collect water samples in Cement Creek. These tasks are coordinated with the Animas River Stakeholders Group as part of an effort to improve the water quality of the river. An additional project to restore an historic. mining site is also being discussed. New safely rules in effect. New rules for mine safety and training took effect Sept. I. DMG and the Coal Mine Board of Examiners in January initiated the mlemaking process) as required by SB 96-45. The rulemaking addressed, among other subjects) the conditions associated with suspension or revoca- tion of certification of coal mine officials. The board and DMG adopted the new rules May 12. The Board has begun updating and revamping all certification exams and study guides. The board plans to have this project completed by February. In a parallel effort, the Mine Safety Program is revamping the entire certification database. The program is working closely with the board to make sure the new database is designed to meet all current and future needs. [3 rl DEPARTMENT INITIATIVES (continued from page 1) pay for a water conservation and supply study. The study will help the three states meet water management goals. including delivery of an additionalI30,000-to-150,000 acre-feet of water to the habitat annually, over and above existing flows. Of that amount, the states already have committed to deliv- er on average 70,000 acre-feet annually from three sources. These sources include construction of a managed ground water recharge project at the Tamarack State Wildlife area near Crook, enlargement of Pathfinder Reservoir on the North Platte River in Wyoming and dedication of a portion of the existing storage capacity of Nebraska's Lake McConaughy. The Tamarack project would adjust timing of flows in the South Platte River to benefit wildlife and habitat in Nebraska. The increased storage capacity at Pathfinder would be operated in conjunction with dedicated storage capacity at Lake McConaughy also to benefit wildlife and habitat in Nebraska. The water conservation and supply study will identify sources for the remaining 60.00 to 80,000 acre feet of additional water. Another major program goal will be to protect and restore at least 10,000 acres of land along the river to supplement the habitat benefits provided by the additional flows. The Governance Committee asked the U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Reclamation and USFWS to coordinate information and data management, so that the recovery effort can take full advantage of the USGS' Platte River Initiative. This independent initiative will provide objective, scientific information to improve management decisions in the Platte River Basin. The committee plans to hire a program director within the next several months. The committee will rotate its meetings among the three states to maximize opportunities for public input beginning with its next meeting Nov. 4 in Cheyenne. Lochhead aHempts to break Taylor Ranch sfalemate. DNR Executive Director Jim Lochhead has submitted a propos- al to Zachary Taylor in an effort to break the stalemate over potential state purchase of the 77,ooo-acre ranch near San Luis of which 23,000 acres has been sold to private interests. In a Sept. 17 letter, Lochhead said he would ask the local community and state agencies for $12 million to purchase the remaining 53.000 acres of the property and to "work aggres- sively" to resolve the pending Land Rights Council lawsuit. Lochhead emphasized that the proposal does not constitute an offer but rather a starting point for negotiations, if Taylor can agree to the proposed $12 millioti purchase price. A state appraisal valued the remaining parcels at $19.6 mil- lion. Lochhead declined to speculate on how Taylor's July sale of 23,000 acres might have affected the appraised value. uThe state is not in a position to enter a bidding war for property with private interests. Any state purchase would require securing support from several funding sources. . . At the same time, if Mr. Taylor is willing to sell the land below the appraised value, he would be eligible for significant tax bene- fits," Lochhead said. 5