2016-12-15_REVISION - C1981041 (3)

Home Browse Search

United States Department of the Interior4�fSon e, s, OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING A .� Reclamation anti Enforcement Western Region Office �9,ONgNpE 1999 Broadway, Suite 3320 Denver, CO 80202-3050 RECEIVED DEC 0 9 2016 Mike Boulay, Director DEC 15 2016 Office of Mined Land Reclamation Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety DIVISION OF D SSAFETY RECLAMATION MINING AND 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 Denver, CO 80203-2273 RIC: Approval of SL -9 Phase II and III Bond Release, Roadside Mine, Permit No. C-1981-041 Dear Mr. Boulay, This letter acknowledges the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), Denver Field Division (DFD) receipt and review of the above Phase II and III Bond Release Proposed Decision document prepared by the Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety (DBMS) dated November 23, 2016. The Proposed Decision documents the applicant's compliance with the approved Colorado regulatory program at Rule 3.03.2. DRMS's proposed decision approves 2.8 acres of Phase II, 10.3 acres of Phases II and III, and 0.5 acres of Phase III bond release. This bond release applies to portions of the Roadside Mine northeast of Palisade, Colorado. OSMRE participated in the bond release inspection held on October 6, 2016. The Bureau of Land Management did not participate in the inspection. By letter dated December 6, 2016, the BLM provided its concurrence with the SL -9 bond release (attached). OSMRE interprets the BLM's concurrence to mean the Roadside Mine is in compliance with all BLM coal lease stipulations. OSMRE agrees with DBMS that Snowcap Coal Company, Inc. has met or exceeded the requirements for Phase 11 and/or III bond release on the specified 13.6 acres of land as described in DBMS Proposed Decision document. The Division currently holds a performance bond in the amount of $805,952.60 for the Roadside Mine. DBMS proposes to release $52,216.63 with this bond release action ($6,415.15 less than the amount Snowcap Coal Company requested). OSMRE agrees with tine findings and decision document and hereby provides OSMRE 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. Thank you and your staff for coordinating this Federal mine bond release action through the DPD. Please direct any questions concerning this action to Christine Belka, Senior Regulatory Program Specialist at chclkaL;()SMRI Tpy or (303) 293-5020. Sincerely, r=k�ki'%7i Alan Boeluus, Chief Denver Field Branch Cc: Tonya Hammond, Snowcap Coal Company Inc.