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EHT OF <br />PtM ryF <br />United States Department of the Interior <br />41 C <br />BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT <br />CH 3 SBA UNCOMPAHGRE FIELD OFFICE <br />2465 South Townsend <br />Montrose, CO 81401 <br />www.bim.gov/co/st/en/fo/ufo.html <br />In Reply 'REE'�ii*CB <br />Refer to: COS05000, 3400 <br />APR 2 7 2015 <br />Howard Strand UNCOMPAHGRE FIELD OFFICE <br />Management /Program Analyst <br />Office of Surface Mining, Western Region <br />1999 Broadway, Suite 3320 <br />Denver, CO 80202 -3050 <br />RE: Proposed Decision of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />(CDRMS) SL -07 Partial Phase I Bond Release at the West Elk Mine, PN C- 1980 -007 <br />Dear Mr. Strand: <br />In response to your email of April 15, 2015, my staff has reviewed your request for concurrence <br />to Phase I Bond Release for reclamation. We have reviewed the CDRMS "Proposed Decision <br />and Findings of Compliance" dated April 13, 2015. We note that CDRMS considers that there <br />was proper plugging and abandonment of 22 drill holes and backfilling and regrading of 22 drill <br />pads and the associated roads and road spurs totaling 19.23 acres, and that it was all completed <br />by the end of 2013. <br />We have determined that the lands included in the bond release area were federal surface lands <br />managed by the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forest (GMUG) while the <br />coal mined there was federal mineral estate managed by the BLM. The drill holes and the <br />related pads and roads have served their useful purpose and are no longer necessary since the <br />underlying coal resource has been mined out and that section of the mine has been abandoned. <br />In addition, the reclamation appears to be properly carried out as reported. <br />If the GMUG is satisfied with the reclamation completed, then the BLM has no objection to the <br />Phase I Bond Release. <br />If you have any questions please contact Desty Dyer at 970 - 240 -5302. <br />Sincerely, <br />&�� )h6� <br />Barbara Sharrow <br />Field Office Manager <br />