2019-08-12_REVISION - C1981019 (3)

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,ENT°Fri United States Department of the Interior SU � OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING M 0 Reclamation and Enforcement �. A�$ western Region Office �ACff 3 AS 1999 Broadway,Suite 3320 AN a Denver,CO 80202-3050 August 12, 2019 Jim Stark Coal Program Supervisor Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203 e: Partial Phase I 11 III Bond release Application SIB-1 ; Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc; Colo yo Mine; C-1 1-01 Dear Mr. Starr, This letter acknowledges the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement SM , Denver Field Branch's IFB receipt and review of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety's I RM August 6, 2019 Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance pertaining to Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc's (Tri-State) SL-15 partial Phase I II III bond release application. OSMRE agrees with the Proposed Decision and hereby provides concurrence in accordance with 30 CFR 7 .1 d3 and 30 CFR 90 .30, Article IX, Section 24 of the Mate-Federal Cooperative Agreement. The surface and mineral ownership associated with this bond release i a combination of private and federal. The Bureau of Land Management BLM was notified of the SL-15 inspection by letter dated February 7, 2019. The BLM was unable to attend. I FB participated in the "inspection which was held on June 12, 2019. By letter dated August 7, 2019 the BLM provided its concurrence with I RMS's Proposed Decision. We interpret this to mean that Tri-State is in compliance with all applicable BLM mineral lease stipulations. l RMS's Proposed Decision notes Tri-Stays compliance with the approved Colorado regulatory program at Rule . 3.1 2a — c and recommends authorizing partial Phase I bond release on 65 acres in the East Pit and west Pit and partial Phase I, II# and III bond release on 3.7 acres of the Gulch Ditch. ) RMS currently holds a reclamation performance bond in the amount of$108,025,721.00 which covers the entire min site, including the acreage proposed for release. Under SL-1 , l RMS proposes to release a total of$1,584,104.00 from reclamation liability. I FB concurs with I RMS's Proposed Decision and recommends mends partial Phase 17 II!III bond release at the Colowyo Mine as proposed. Thank you and your staff for coordinating this bond release action through the IFB. Tease direct any questions to Torn Medlin, Environmental Protection Specialist, at tmedlin@o rrxr , or 0 293- 083.