PERMFILE66586

• Permit No: X200621207
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 6/22/2006
• Doc Name: NOI Application
• From: Mountain Coal Company
• To: DMG
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

MOUNTAIN COAL
~COMPANYL.L.C.
A Subsidiary of Arch Western Resources, LLC
West Elk Mine
P O Bax 591
5174 Highway 133
Somerset, CO 81434
[phone]
Fax [phone]
June 20, 2006
Mr. Daniel Hernandez
Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology
1313 Sherman Street, Room 215
Denver, CO 80203
R~~!~!~!F_D
JUN 2 2 2006
piyiegn of Minerals entl GoWOOY
Re: Mountain Coal Company L.L.C. (MCC), West Elk Mine, Deer Creek Shaft Notice of Intent
to Explore.
Dear Mr. Hernandez:
Attached is the information containing the Notice of Intent to Explore (less than 250 tons of coal) for
the Deer Creek Shaft Project. You may recall that MCC previously submitted Technical Revision No.
104 (TR-104), for this project. However, the USFS needs to review the shaft sinking as an
Environmental Assessment (EA) and wanted MCC to move forwazd with the project, so they suggested
downsizing the project proposed for this yeaz (2006), to better fit with their timeframes due to a more
lengthy EA process for shaft construction. What MCC is proposing for this yeaz (2006) is more of an
exploration plan and that plan has been accepted by the USFS and their Notice of Decision is attached.
MCC proposes this NOI for the construction of a short road and pad, drilling of from two to four
geotechnical boreholes, and one exploration hole neaz where the shaft would be constructed. The
attached plan more accurately describes the project. The total disturbed azea proposed with this NOI is
1.7 acres.
Also attached aze the cultural resources survey (2005) and the Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive
Species Surveys (TESS) conducted in 2005 and 2006. This information is somewhat repetitive as it
was submitted previously with TR-104, with the exception to the TESS of 2006. The previously
submitted biological assessment, biological evaluation is also included.
Because the USFS cannot approve Technical Revision No. 104 at this time, MCC is requesting the
withdrawl of TR-104. As you are aware, the administrative requests for extension of decision(s) would
unnecessarily burden both the Division and MCC, hence this request.
Should you az you staff have questions regazding this NOI and request to withdraw TR-104, please
contact me at [phone].