2019-09-20_INSPECTION - C1981019

• Permit No: C1981019
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Date: 9/20/2019
• Doc Name: OSM Inspection Report
• From: OSM
• To: DRMS
• Inspection Date: 9/5/2019
• Email Name: ZTT
• Email Name: JDM
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Denver Field Branch
Bond Release Evaluation Report
Permittee: Colowyo Coal Company, LP
Mine: Colowyo Coal Mine
Permit No: C-1981-019
Date of Inspection: September 5, 2019
Inspection Type: Partial Phase I, II, and III bond release
Weather: Sunny and hot with dry ground conditions
Operator Representative(s): Tony Tennyson and Tom Fry
State Official(s): Zach Trujillo
BLM Official(s): None present
OSMRE Official(s): Tom Medlin (#562)
Background
This was a partial bond release inspection at the Colowyo Coal Mine in Moffat and Rio Blanco
Counties, Colorado. Under SL-16 Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc (Tri-
State) proposes Phase I bond release on approximately 3.3 acres of reclamation in the East Pit
where it indicates backfill, regrading, and drainage control have been completed in accordance
with the terms of its approved reclamation plan. Tri-State also proposes Phase II bond release on
approximately 38.5* acres in the East Pit and South Taylor Pit where it indicates vegetative
establishment in support of the rangeland postmining land use (PMLU) meets the requirements
for herbaceous cover and acceptable sedimentology demonstrations have been made in
accordance with the terms of its approved reclamation plan. Tri-State also proposes Phase I, II,
and III bond release on approximately 5.2 acres of permitted permanent structures including the
Gulch A Pond and the East Side Collection Ditch. The Division of Reclamation, Mining and
Safety (DRMS) found the SL-16 application administratively complete on July 24, 2019.
The lands proposed for Phase I bond release lie within the County of Moffat, State of Colorado,
Township 3 North, Range 93 West of the 6th PM:
• Section 15: NW 1/4 S W 1/4
The lands proposed for Phase II bond release lie within the Counties of Moffat and Rio Blanco,
State of Colorado, Township 3 North, Range 93 West of the 6th PM:
• Section 10: S W 1/4 S 1/2
• Section 15: NW 1/4
• Section 16: SW1/4 S1/2, NE1/4 SE1/4
• Section 17: N1/2
• Section 20: NE1/4
• Section 21: NW 1/4
The lands proposed for Phase I, II, and III bond release lie within the County of Moffat, State of
Colorado, Township 3 North, Range 93 West of the 61h PM:
• Section 2: SE1/4 SE1/4
• Section 11: All
* Colowyo originally applied for 83.3 acres of Phase II bond release under SL-16 but later
removed the 44.8 acre ST001 parcel from consideration.