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<br />1313 Sherman St. Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 P (303) 866-3567 F (303) 832-8106 https://drms.colorado.gov
<br />Jared Polis, Governor | Dan Gibbs, Executive Director | Michael A. Cunningham, Director
<br />January 21, 2026
<br />
<br />Delta County Commissioners
<br />County Commissioner
<br />501 Palmer Street, #227
<br />Delta, CO 81416
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<br />
<br />Re: West Elk Mine (Permit No. C-1980-007)
<br /> Permit Renewal Application No. 9 (RN-9)
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<br />Dear Delta County Commissioners:
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<br />The Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety hereby issues notice, in accordance with Title 34,
<br />Article 33, Section 118, Paragraph 3, of the Colorado Revised Statutes, that on January 21, 2026, an
<br />application to renew an existing permit to conduct coal mining operations at West Elk Mine was
<br />considered complete for the purposes of filing. All review and comment periods as provided in the
<br />Colorado Surface Mining Reclamation Act and the Rules initiate from this date of filing.
<br />
<br />Mountain Coal Company, LLC proposes to continue underground coal mining and/or reclamation
<br />operations on land located approximately 9 miles East of Paonia, Colorado. The permit area is
<br />further described as follows:
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<br />All or portions of Sections 9 through 36 (inclusive), Township 13 South, Range 90 West; Sections
<br />23 through 26 (inclusive), Township 13 South, Range 91 West; Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11,
<br />12, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22 and 23, Township 14 South, Range 90 West; all of the 6th Principal Meridian..
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<br />The above-mentioned tracts of land are shown on the following USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangle
<br />map(s): Somerset.
<br />
<br />Mountain Coal Company seeks to renew the West Elk Mine permit for another 5-year term. This
<br />renewal application does not propose revisions to the approved mining and reclamation plan, nor is
<br />there any proposed surface disturbance outside of the currently approved disturbance area.
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<br />A copy of the renewal application is available for public inspection at the Delta County Clerk and
<br />Recorder, 501 Palmer Street, Room 211, Delta, CO 81416; Gunnison County Clerk and Recorder,
<br />221 N. Wisconsin, Gunnison, CO 81230. The renewal application, as well as all other permit
<br />documents, can be viewed at https://dnrweblink.state.co.us/drms/search.aspx by searching
<br />C1980007 in the “Permit No” field. A user guide is available to help first time users of the imaged
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