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TRI -STATE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION ASSOCIATION, INC. <br />HEADQUARTERS: P.O. BOX 33695 DENVER, COLORADO 80233 -0695 303 - 452 -6111 <br />nW July 15, 2014 <br />Mr. Rob Zuber <br />Environmental Protection Specialist <br />Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining & Safety <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />RE: Colowyo Coal Company L.P., Mine Permit C -81 -019, Streeter Ditch Mitigation <br />Proposal <br />Dear Mr. Zuber: <br />Tri -State Generation and Transmission Association Inc. (Tri- State), is the parent <br />company to Axial Basin Coal Company, which is the general partner to Colowyo Coal Company <br />L.P. (Colowyo). Therefore, Tri-State on behalf of Colowyo is submitting this proposal to <br />conduct mitigation efforts on the Streeter Ditch. <br />Per Mr. Jim Stark's inspection report issued to the Colowyo Mine on June 3, 2014, the <br />Division requested a plan to mitigate flat locations in the Streeter Ditch. From a historical <br />perspective, the Streeter Ditch segments in question were constructed during the 1982, 1984, and <br />1991 field seasons. The Streeter Ditch in these locations is the Northern extent of mining that <br />occurred in the East Pit, and all reclamation parcels adjoining the Streeter Ditch were Phase III <br />released in August of 2012. The Streeter Ditch was not Phase III released with the adjacent <br />reclamation parcels due to areas of active mining still contributing surface water run -off to the <br />upper reaches of Streeter Ditch. <br />Tri -State and Colowyo staff completed a field evaluation of the Streeter Ditch locations <br />identified by the Division on June 17, 2014. With the results of the evaluation, Tri -State would <br />tike to propose the following measures to mitigate the issues identified on portions of the Streeter <br />Ditch. Please see attached Figure 1 for locations of the appropriate ditch segment as described <br />below. <br />1. Station 60 to 70 (Approximate) — On the ground conditions demonstrate this ditch <br />segment has exceptionally well established vegetation, and erosional issues have not been <br />a concern at present or historically. Furthermore, with the flat profile of the Streeter <br />Ditch on this segment, to conduct any mitigation work extensive dirt movement would <br />have to occur to ensure the proper profile was acquired for the ditch to drain <br />appropriately. For this work to be performed correctly, disturbance would have to occur <br />potentially to Phase III release areas and native undisturbed areas. Therefore, Tri-State <br />proposes to not conduct any mitigation work in this segment of the ditch and allow the <br />ditch to function as is with a very well established vegetated lining. That being said, this <br />segment would continue to be monitored for erosional issues, and should any erosional <br />AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY /AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER <br />A Touchstone Ener y'Cooperadve <br />CRAIG STATION ESCALANTE STATION NUCLA STATION <br />PO. BOX 1307 P.O. BOX 577 P.O. Box 698 <br />CRAIG, CO 816261307 PREWITT, NM 87045 NUCLA, CO 81424 -0698 <br />970 - 824 -4411 505- 972 -5200 970 -864 -7316 <br />