2016-10-12_REVISION - C1981019 (3)

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14;,°;,TtiF,y United States Department of the Interior OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING Reclamation and Enforcement a9 Western Region Office ARCH 3.�� 1999 Broadway, Suite 3320 Denver, CO 80202-3050 October 12, 2016 Mike Boulay Coal Program Supervisor Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 Re: Phase I Bond Release Application SL -9, Colowyo Mine, C-1981-019 Dear Mr. Boulay, Op SURFgcFM NAN° E This letter acknowledges the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), Denver Field Branch's (DFB) receipt and review of the subject Phase I bond release proposed decision prepared by the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DBMS) dated September 28, 2016 and received by this office October 7, 2016. DFB agrees with the proposed decision and hereby provides OSMRE's concurrence for the above bond release action in accordance with 30 CFR 740.15 (d) (3) and 30 CFR 906.30, Article IX, Section 24 of the State -Federal Cooperative Agreement. OSMRE participated in the bond release inspection on May 11, 2016. OSMRE received the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) concurrence with the Division's proposed decision by email dated October 11, 2016 which we interpret to mean that Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. is in compliance with all BLM coal lease stipulations. DRMS's proposed decision notes the applicant's compliance with the Colorado approved regulatory program at Rule 3.03.1(2)(a) and recommends authorizing the Phase I bond release of the reclaimed West Pit. The total bond release recommended by DRMS is 65.6 acres at Tri-State Generation and 'Transmission Association, Inc.'s Colowyo Mine. OSMRE finds that Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. has met or exceeded the requirements for Phase I bond release on the 65.6 acres of land described above. DRMS currently holds a performance bond in the amount of $80,517,829.00 for the Colowyo Mine. This amount covers the entire minesite, including the aforementioned area. DRMS proposes to release a total of $347,500.00 from Phase I bond liability under this SL -9 action. OSMRE concurs with DRMS's decision and recommends release for the requested area at the Colowyo Mine. Thank you and your staff for coordinating this federal mine bond release action through the Denver Field Branch. Please direct any questions concerning this action to Tom Medlin, Environmental Protection Specialist, at tmedlin@bosmre.gov or 303/293-5083.