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iii niniiiiiiuiii STATE OF COLORADO DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY Department o(Nal ural Resources 1 317 Sherman SL, Room 215 `y Denver, Colorado AO203 I ~~ Phone: OD7) 866-3567 II FA%: 0031 A32-A I Ob DEPARTMEN'T' OF NATURAL January 2, 1997 RESOURCES ft°y Nomer State Supervisor covernnr U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service lames 5. Lochhead EaeculrvP Dvedor 730 Simms Street, Suite 290 Michael B. Long Golden, C~ 80401 Division Dnector I2E: LORENCITO CANYON MINE (Permit No. C-96-084) New Permit Application Dear State Supervisor: The Division of Minerals and Geology hereby issues notice, in accordance with Title 34, Article 33, Section 118, Pazagraph 3 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, that on January 2, 1997, an application for a permit to conduct coal mining operations at the Lorencito Canyon Mine was considered complete for the purposes of filing. All review and comment periods as provided in the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act and the Rules and Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining initiate from this date of filing. The applicant, Lorencito Coal Company, proposes to conduct combined surface & underground coal mining operations on lands owned by the Hi11 Ranch located southeast of Weston, Colorado. Coal mined by this operation will be transported off-site for processing and shipment to markets. The permit area can be generally described as bounded by the South Fork of the Purgatoire River on the west, Highway 12 on the north, Lorencito and Bonita Canyons on the east and Little Alamosa Canyon on the south. Map 2.03.4-1 and Exhibit 2 of the permit application contain the lengthy, detailed legal description. The above-mentioned tracts of land are shown on USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangle map of Tercio, Weston and Little Pine Canyon. We are requesting your agency's evaluation of the potential for impacts to threatened or endangered species of plants or animals, or wildlife species otherwise protected by federal law. In order for us to approve this revision, we are required to make a finding that "the activities would not affect the continued existence of endangered or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitats as determined under the Endangered Species Act of 1973...." Applicable sections of the revision application are enclosed. Please advise us if you require additional information. The OSM has been contacted and, since this proposed operation involves only private surface and coal ownership, they instructed the Division to deal with U.S.F.W.S. directly at this time. In order for us to comply with regulatory time frames, we request [hat comments be submitted to the Division of Minerals and Geology at the above address by 5:00 p.m. on February 26, 1997. If no comments are received by this date, we will proceed on the assumption that your agency has no concerns with or objections to the applicant's proposal.