2019-10-23_REVISION - C1981022 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

4 . ~= United States Department of the Interior BUREAU 01� LAND AN GI:MENT UNCO 'PAI-1 IRE HUD OFFICE CHI 3 2465 South Townsend Montrose,CO 81401 www.blnl.gov/co/st/en/fo/ufo.htm] In Reply Refer to: COS05000, 3400 Christine Belka Senior Regulatory Program CCT Specialist 1 r 2 3 3 >> > �019 USDOI Office of Surface Mining Denver Field Division 1999 Broadway, Suite 3320 Denver, CO 80202 RE: Proposed Decision of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (CDRMS) SL-1 Partial Phase I Bond Release at the Elk Creek Mine, PN C-1981-022 Dear Ms. Belka: This is to inform you that my staff has reviewed the CDRMS Inspection Report dated May 30, 2019 and the OSM Mine Site Inspection Report dated May 31, 2019. We note that both CDRMS and OSM acknowledge that Oxbow achieved demolition and removal of structures followed by completed backfilling and grading that included reconstruction of the Elk Creek channel. We also note that the original bond release acres were reduced from 20.60 to 19.40 to remove the channel corridor due to the probability of future stability issues. We have determined that the lands included in the bond release area were fee surface lands and that the reclamation removed surface facilities that served coal mined from federal mineral estate managed by the BLM. All the facilities and the related surface they occupied had served their useful purpose and were no longer necessary. The reclamation appears to be properly carried out as CDRMS and OSM reported. If the private land owner is satisfied with the reclamation completed, then the BLM has no objection to the Phase I Bond Release. If you have any questions please contact Desty Dyer at 970-240-5302. Sincerely, Greg -fir--- son Field Office Manager CC Leigh Simmons, CDRMS Dan Gray, USFS