Laserfiche WebLink
COLORADO <br />Division of Reclamation, <br />Mining and Safety <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />December 4, 2020 <br />Tony Tennyson <br />Colowyo Coal Company L.P. <br />5731 State Highway 13 <br />Meeker, CO 81641 <br />Re: Colowyo Coal Mine (Permit No. C-1981-019) <br />Technical Revision No.143 (TR-143) <br />Adequacy Review <br />Dear Mr. Tennyson: <br />After reviewing TR-143 from Colowyo Coal Company L.P. (Colowyo), the Division has the following comments: <br />1. On proposed Volume 1, Rule 2, page 2.05-18 on the third paragraph, it refers to the appropriate cross sections for the <br />Colowyo Mine on Map 20B. Map 20B only shows the cross sections for the South Taylor Pit. Please include references <br />for cross sections associated with the East, West and Collom Pit. <br />2. On proposed Volume 1, Rule 4, page 4-38, it appears that there is a pagination error with the currently approved Rule <br />4, page 4-37. Currently approved page 4-37 was last approved with MR-222 and transitions into the currently approved <br />4-38 with the second paragraph under Section 4.14.6 — Regrading or Stabilizing Rills and Gullies. Please provide an <br />updated Volume 1, Rule 4, page 4-38 that flows properly with the currently approved page 4-37. <br />3. On proposed Volume 15, Rule 2, page 85, it appears that there is a pagination error with the currently approved Rule 2, <br />page 84. Proposed page 85 starts with Section 2.05.4(1) while on the currently approved Section 2.05.4(1) of Volume <br />15 begins on page 81. Please provide an updated Volume 15, Rule 2 as necessary to ensure pagination flows properly. <br />The following comments were received by the Division from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on November 30, 2020. <br />With their comments, BLM notes that they are aware most of the surface in TR-143 is privately owned. The correspondence <br />between the agencies can be found through the Division's online database Laserfiche. <br />4. Table 2.05-7 <br />[BLM] would recommend the use of Utah Sweetvetch (Hedysarum boreale) instead of Cicer Milkvetch (Astragalus <br />titer). The native nitrogen -fixer is preferred to the introduced species which is competitive. A. titer can outcompete <br />the seed native grass species impacting seeding success. <br />The substation of Great Basin Wildrye (Leymus cinereus) for Orchagd grass (Dactylis glomerata) is an interesting <br />approach .The structure of great basin wildrye is preferred over orchard grass. The larger stature of basin wildrye reduces <br />drifting and increases snow retention. This can increase soil moisture and enhance shrub species establishment over <br />time. <br />OF COlO <br />n O <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215, Denver, CO 80203 P 303.866.3567 F 303.832.8106 http://mining.state.co.us * <br />* <br />Jared S. Polis, Governor I Dan Gibbs, Executive Director I Virginia Brannon, Director 1876 <br />