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STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OE MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone: (303) 866-3567 <br />FAX: (303) 832-8106 <br />14 March 2006 <br />Mr Allyn C. Davis <br />District Manager, Coal District 9 <br />U.S. Department of Labor <br />Mine Safety and Health Administration <br />Denver Federal Center <br />Building 25, Dock E-16 <br />61h Avenue and Kipling <br />Denver, CO 80225 <br />Dear Mr. Davis: <br />COLORADO <br />DIVISION O F <br />MINERALS <br />GEOLOGY <br />REC LAM ATION•MINING <br />SAEETY•SOENCE <br />Bill Owens <br />Govemar <br />Russell George <br />Executive Director <br />Ronald W. Cattany <br />Division Direcor <br />Natural Resource Trustee <br />The Division of Minerals and Geology (the Division) has received an application ("notice <br />of intent") to explore for coal by reopening portals and entering an abandoned mine. We <br />would like to describe the proposal to your office to determine if any issues fall under <br />your authority and if the MSHA has any comments or recommendations. <br />The Burnwell Mine, in the Hesperus Quadrangle neaz Durango, Colorado, has been <br />inactive for many yeazs. The Division has closed the portals to the old mine using bat <br />doors under the Inactive Mines program. The new activities proposed by the applicant <br />aze described in the following paragraph. <br />The applicant proposes to temporarily remove the bat doors to gain entry, then to <br />"rehabilitate" the first 1000 feet of the two portals "through removal of obstructing coal <br />or roof and floor material, reinforcement of roof and walls as necessary, with a <br />combination of timbers, re-mesh, and/or bolts. Underground machinery from the <br />National King Mine will be employed. During rehabilitation of the two portals, any <br />obstructing coal, coal waste, or roof or floor material will be removed and placed in the <br />permitted National King Coal waste pile. The Burnwell Mine workings will be surveyed <br />and any coal samples collected for analysis. When investigations aze complete, the <br />portals will be resealed using the bat doors to allow access to wildlife. No surface or <br />underground blasting, road or access route construction will occur with this project. All <br />regulaz safety precautions will be followed." <br />Office of Office of Colorado <br />Mined Land Reclamation Active and Inactive Mines Geological Survey <br />