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Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />05.17.2018 Memo <br /> <br />Comments: <br />I have reviewed the application for Coal Ridge No. 1 Mine, TR21. This revision proposes to <br />change the previously approved Sagebrush reference area to an extended reference area. In <br />addition, due to the unavailability of reliable irrigation water in the V ulcan ditch, the operator <br />requests that the post mining land use for a portion of the reclaimed mine area be changed <br />from irrigated pasture to dry land pasture. <br />The Division has previously noted the decadent nature of the currently approved Sagebrush <br />reference area. The extended reference area concept allows for greater flexibility and reduced <br />“edge” effect for sampling a reference area. Although the Division welcomes the extended <br />Sagebrush reference area concept, the operator did not provide a map or figure showing <br />where the Extended Sagebrush reference area is located. <br />1. Please have the operator provide a map or figure showing where the proposed <br />Extended Sagebrush Reference area is located. <br />C. B. Minerals Company (the operator) states that they no longer have secured water in the <br />Vulcan Ditch to supply the irrigated pasture area. The Division concurs that it is appropriate to <br />change the post-mining land use of this parcel to “dryland pasture”. <br />2. Please assure that the operator has supplied all the information required by Rule <br />4.16.3, since the operator is proposing a land use change. Please have the operator <br />provide a letter from the landowner or the parcel in question that confirms that the <br />landowner is in agreement with the post-mining land use change. <br />3. Please update Figure 4.7.2 “Future Land Use” to reflect the proposed land use <br />change. <br />4. Please update permit section 3.1.4, page 3-7 to reflect the proposed post-mining land <br />use change. <br />The operator is proposing to compare the reclaimed proposed dryland pasture to the proposed <br />extended sagebrush reference area. The pasture area is located predominately on Heldt Clay <br />loam and Nihill Channery loam soil mapping units based upon NRCS WebSoilSurvey <br />information. No information regarding anticipated dryland pasture production was available for <br />To <br />Zach Trujillo <br />From <br />Janet Binns <br /> <br />CC: Laserfiche <br />Re <br />Coal Ridge <br />TR21