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<br /> <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 />Charlie Kwak <br />Office of Surface Mining <br />Interior Regions <br />One Federal Center, Building 41 <br />PO Box 25065 <br />Denver, CO 80225-0065 <br /> <br /> <br />Re: West Elk Mine (Permit No. C-1980-007) <br /> Permit Renewal Application No. 9 (RN-9) <br /> <br /> <br />Dear Sir or Madam: <br /> <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 the 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. This renewal application <br />does not propose revisions to the approved mining and reclamation plan, nor is there any proposed <br />surface disturbance outside of the currently approved disturbance area. <br /> <br />The permit area is further described as follows: <br /> <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. <br /> <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. <br /> <br />The applicant is required to publish notice in the Delta County Independent that this permit renewal <br />application has been deemed complete. At the time of publication of this notice, the applicant is