2014-01-24_REVISION - C1996083 (2)

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STATE OF COLORADO DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY Department of Natural Resources 1313 Sherman St., Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203 Phone: (303) 866 -3567 FAX: (303) 832 -8106 January 24, 2014 William A. Bear Bowie Resources, LLC P.O. Box 483 Paonia, CO 81428 Re: Bowie No. 2 Mine (Permit No. C- 1996 -083) Minor Revision No. 146 (MR -146) Acreage Corrections and Pitkin Mesa Pipeline Replacement Dear Mr. Bear: COLORADO ID IV I S I O N O F RECLAMATION MINING SAFETY John W. Hickenlooper Governor Mike King Executive Director Loretta E. Pineda Director The Division has completed a preliminary adequacy review of the minor revision application (MR -146) submitted by Bowie Resources, LLC (BRL) for the Bowie No. 2 Mine. The revision proposes a reclamation plan and cost estimate for replacement of a section of the Pitkin Mesa Pipeline over Panels 15 and 16, and corrects the disturbed and affected area acreage within the permit area. We have the following comments regarding the application. 1. The timing for topsoil removal and redistribution is not ideal; snow cover and freezing temperatures during handling may have a negative effect on the soil structure. As such, the Division believes it would be prudent for BRL to remove snow cover prior to topsoil salvaging operations. The Division will place a stipulation on our approval of the revision requiring BRL to remove snow prior to topsoil stripping, and provide photographic documentation that snow was removed prior to topsoil removal. 2. It would appear that excavation and replacement of the pipeline will require disturbance of and a partial or full temporary closure of Stevens Gulch Road. BRL published its intent to undermine the road with the approval of PR -12. We are unable, however, to locate any documentation that BRL has coordinated with the county on this road disturbance and closure. Please provide documentation of approval or acknowledgement from Delta County for the excavation and closure of Stevens Gulch Road. 3. It appears that the subsidence monitoring points located along the Pitkin Mesa Pipeline will be disturbed by the pipeline replacement. The points will need to be surveyed prior to disturbance, reset, surveyed again, and calibrated relative to the former locations. The Division will place a stipulation on the revision approval requiring surveying and resetting of the monuments. 4. BRL provided a cost reclamation cost estimate for the project totaling $6,677.58. The Division's estimate is $6,574.39; the estimate is lower because of a difference in indirect cost percentages applied to the direct costs. Our estimate is attached. Office of Office of Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines