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:i1A), United States Department of the Interior 4�pESV�acF�� <br />OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING <br />Reclamation and Enforcement <br />Western Region Office �9r"►anro <br />1999 Broadway, Suite 3320 <br />Denver, CO 80202-3050 <br />January 27, 2016 <br />JAN 2 7 2016 <br />Mike Boulay <br />Coal Program Supervisor <br />Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />Re: Phase I Bond Release Application SL -8, Colowyo Mine, C-1981-019 <br />Dear Mr. Boulay: <br />This letter acknowledges the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), <br />Denver Field Branch's (DFB) receipt and review of the subject Phase I bond release proposed <br />decision prepared by the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) dated January 7, <br />2016 and received by this office January 14, 2016. DFB agrees with the proposed decision and <br />hereby provides OSMRE's concurrence for the above bond release action in accordance with 30 <br />CFR 740.15 (d) (3) and 30 CFR 906.30, Article IX, Section 24 of the State -Federal Cooperative <br />Agreement. <br />OSMRE and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) participated in the bond release inspection <br />on September 22, 2015. OSMRE received the BLM's concurrence with the Division's proposed <br />decision by letter dated January 21, 2016 which we interpret to mean that Tri-State Generation <br />and Transmission Association, Inc. is in compliance with all BLM coal lease stipulations. <br />DRMS's proposed decision notes the applicant's compliance with the Colorado approved <br />regulatory program at Rule 3.03.1(2)(a) and recommends authorizing the Phase I bond release of <br />the reclaimed East Pit, West Pit, South Taylor Pit, Gulch A Ditch, and West Pit Fill Ditch areas. <br />The total bond release recommended by DRMS is 189.6 acres at Tri-State Generation and <br />Transmission Association, Inc.'s Colowyo Mine. <br />OSMRE finds that Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. has met or exceeded <br />the requirements for Phase I bond release on the 189.6 acres of land described above. DRMS <br />currently holds a performance bond in the amount of $80,517,829.00 for the Colowyo Mine. <br />This amount covers the entire minesite, including the aforementioned area. DRMS proposes to <br />release a total of $3,444,562.00 from Phase I bond liability under this SL -8 action. <br />OSMRE concurs with DRMS's decision and recommends release for the requested area at the <br />Colowyo Mine. <br />Thank you and your staff for coordinating this federal mine bond release action through the <br />Denver Field Branch. Please direct any questions concerning this action to Tom Medlin, <br />