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Mountain Coal Company <br />Mountain Coal Company, LLC <br />West Elk Mine <br />P.O. Box 591 <br />Somerset, CO 81434 <br />Kathleen G. Welt <br />Environmental Engineer III <br />kweltgbarchcoal.com <br />phone: 970.929.2238 <br />facilities and verified that no additional stream buffer zones or signs are needed, as no mine <br />disturbances within 100' of any stream have an upstream drainage area of one square mile <br />or greater. As you know, there are many stream buffer zone locations that may exist <br />throughout MCC's southern permit area from MDW and monitoring sites and roads. MCC <br />reviewed the Division's questions about stream buffer zones and markers with the US Forest <br />Service and they have told MCC that they do not want stream buffer zones marked on the <br />Gunnison National Forest. This request was documented in a letter to me and is attached. <br />9. Based on a review of the West Elk Mine's permit text regarding stream buffer zones on <br />page 2.05 -64, there is no discussion of stream buffer zone markers. Please review this <br />text and add a discussion of stream buffer zone markers. Please ensure that this <br />discussion is consistent with the markers that are on the ground. <br />MCC has revised and attached page 2.05 -64 to include a discussion of the buffer zone <br />markers. <br />10. The West Elk Mine has approved exceptions to the stream buffer zones which are <br />discussed in the text on page 2.05 -64. This text discusses the exceptions along the <br />North Fork of the Gunnison River and Sylvester Gulch. Since the stream buffer zone <br />Rule applies to all perennial, intermittent and ephemeral streams with a drainage area <br />greater than one mile, West Elk will need to review all of the other streams within the <br />mine's permit area. West Elk will need to address any other required stream buffer zone <br />exemptions, even if there is only a road crossing the stream. <br />See response #8, above. <br />11. Figure 18, on page 2.05 -66, shows the stream buffer zones along the North Fork of the <br />Gunnison River. West Elk will need to include a map or figure with the other stream <br />buffer zones within the mine's permit area. <br />See response # 8, above. As there are no change to the stream buffer zone exceptions, <br />there are no changes needed to Figure 18. <br />Please contact me at (970) 929 -2238 or by e-mail should you have questions regarding this <br />submittal. <br />Sincerely, 57 <br />Kathleen G. Welt, <br />Environmental Engineer III <br />cc: Jessica Loveland — MCC <br />Weston Norris - MCC <br />Neal Starkebaum - Gunnison Co. <br />