2018-09-10_REVISION - C1981019 - Laserfiche WebLink

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�ptO,H; ;>y�y� United States Department of the Interior OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING Reclamation and Enforcement ti .+ Western Region Office 1999 Broadway, Suite 3320 Denver, CO 80202-3050 SEP 10 2019 James Stark Coal Program Supervisor Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 Re: Partial Phase I Bond Release Application SL -13, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc., Colowyo Mine, C-1981-019 Dear Mr. Stark, This letter acknowledges the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), Denver Field Branch's (DFB) receipt and review of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety's (DRMS) August 30, 2018 Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance pertaining to Tri- state Generation and Transmission Association, Inc.'s (Tri-State) SL -13 partial Phase I bond release application. OSMRE agrees with the proposed decision and hereby provides concurrence in accordance with 30 CFR 740.15 (d)(3) and 30 CFR 906.30, Article IX, Section 24 of the State -Federal Cooperative Agreement. The surface and mineral ownership associated with this bond release is a combination of private, state, and federal. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was notified of the inspection by letter dated May 11, 2018. The BLM was unable to attend. DFB participated in the SL -13 bond release inspection which was conducted on May 23, 2018. By letter dated September 5, 2018, BLM provided its concurrence with DRMS's proposed decision. We interpret this to mean that Tri-State is in compliance with all applicable BLM mineral lease stipulations. DRMS's proposed decision notes Tri -State's compliance with the approved Colorado regulatory program at Rules 3.03.1(2)(b) and 3.03.1(2)(c) and recommends authorizing partial Phase I bond release on 103.1 acres at the Colowyo Mine. DRMS currently holds a performance bond in the amount of $108,025,721.00 which covers the entire minesite, including the acreage proposed for release. Under SL -13, DRMS proposes to release a total of $1,039,169.00 from Phase I bond liability. DFB concurs with DRMS's proposed decision and recommends Phase I bond release for the requested areas at the Colowyo Mine. Thank you and your staff for coordinating this bond release action through DFB. Please direct any questions to Christine Belka, Senior Regulatory Program Specialist, at cbelka@osmre,gov or (303) 293- 5020.