|
Public Notice
<br />Mountain Coal Company, LLC (MCC), P.O. Box 591, Somerset, CO 81434, (970) 929-
<br />5015, has filed a Phase II Bond Release Request Application to MCC's Mining and
<br />Reclamation Permit No. C -80 -007 with the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board
<br />(Board), under the provisions of the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act of
<br />1979. The permit was originally issued by the Board in July 1981, and subsequently
<br />renewed in August 1986, January 1993 (effective August 1991), July 1996, July 2001,
<br />and April 2007 (effective July 2006.), and July 2011. The current five -year permit term
<br />expires July 31, 2016. The State of Colorado holds a surety reclamation bond that covers
<br />the reclamation liability of $14,093,955.30. The West Elk Mine five -year permit area
<br />contains lands in Sections 9 -11, 13 -36, T13S, R90W, 6a' PM; and Sections 23 -26, TI 3S,
<br />R91W, a PM, and Sections 1-5, 8 -12, T14S, R90W, 6`h PM in Delta and Gunnison
<br />Counties. The location of the lands can be found on the USGS 7.5 minute Somerset and
<br />Minnesota Pass Quadrangle Topographic Maps. The current permit area encompasses
<br />approximately 17,154.9 acres.
<br />MCC is requesting Phase III Bond Release for reclaimed methane drainage wells
<br />the Thermal Event area, Lone Pine area, and reclaimed methane drainage wells and
<br />access road in the West Point area. This area covers approximately 24.2 acres of
<br />private and National Forest System lands specifically located within portions of
<br />Sections 18, 19, 20, 27 and 29, Township 13 South, Range 90 West, in Gunnison
<br />County, Colorado. These drill sites and roads were necessary for coal exploration
<br />and methane drainage over the past fifteen years. MCC is requesting a release of all
<br />remaining reclamation bond liability (approximately $150,000.00), for a total
<br />release of 100% of the applicable bond amount posted for those sites, as allowed by
<br />Colorado Statute and Rule 3.03. This amount will be verified by the State of
<br />Colorado. The reclaimed areas have met the applicable vegetation bond release
<br />criteria for Phase III bond release.
<br />Reclamation of the various drill site locations and roads within MCC's permit were
<br />completed between 1996 and 2002. This included proper plugging and abandonment
<br />of drill holes, as well as backfilling and regrading of drill pad locations and roads,
<br />and replacement of salvaged topsoil. The well sites and roads proposed for bond
<br />release have been revegetated using various methods of seeding, fertilizing, and
<br />mulching, including the installation of straw and erosion control matting.
<br />A copy of the Phase III Bond Release application is available for review at the
<br />Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, 1313 Sherman Street, Room
<br />215 Denver, CO 80203, phone (303) 866 -3567, and the Gunnison County Planning
<br />Office, 221 N. Wisconsin, Suite D, Gunnison, CO 81230. Comments or objections
<br />concerning the application should be directed to the CDRMS at the above address
<br />not later than 30 days after the first date of publication of this notice (published 4
<br />times consecutively) in order to be considered. Published , 2013.
<br />
|