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III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII <br />999 <br />March t <br />United States Department of the Interior <br />~~O <br />~~~ <br />2002 <br />EFCI Southfield Mine <br />Kerr Coal Company <br />George Patterson <br />PO Box 459 <br />Florence, Colorado 81236 <br />Dear Mr. Patterson: <br />BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT <br />Kremmling Field Office <br />2103 E. Park Ave. <br />PO Box 6S <br />Kremmling, CO 80459 <br />v~oaz4-3oo0 <br />http:/Avww.co blm.gov/kraikrnindex.htm <br />RECEIVED <br />b9AR 9 4 21i1~2 <br />Oivisiori of Minerals and Geology <br />Camp-oo~ <br /> <br />IV REPLY REFER TO: <br />34ootco-I2o> <br />Pursuant to correspondence between BLM and Kerr since September 2001, unreclaimed drill holes and <br />water monitoring wells associated with the long-closed Marr mine will be reclaimed by the standards <br />that follow. Kerr will not be responsible for reclamation of drill holes originally drilled by the U.S. <br />Department of Interior, unless they specifically used such wells as part of their mine plan, permit or <br />monitoring activities. Table 1 lists the parties responsible for reclamation of the drill holes drilled by <br />USGS. The only drill hole exceptions to reclamation at this time will be the handful of wells required <br />to remain in active monitoring status by the state of Colorado. <br />(1) Any wells or holes that were drilled under the federal exploration license C-28056 and intercepted <br />coal resources, shall be abandoned and reclaimed under the tetTns of that license, unless they aze to be <br />used as "beneficial use" water wells (see # 4, below). The standards of abandonment for this license <br />was to isolate the coal seam from adjacent strata and groundwater by use of a cement plug through the <br />coal, ~0' above and 50' below the seam (1979 exploration license, section 14j, p. 4). Similar intervals <br />for all aquifers will also be plugged with cement. If any of I:hese drill holes were completed as <br />hydrologic monitoring wells without federal approval, it shall be Kerr's responsibility to satisfy the <br />BLM that well completion includes isolation of the coat seam and aquifers equivalent to that described <br />above. <br />(2) Any wells outside [he limits of [his license that intercept federal coal resources shall be plugged to <br />standards outlined in (1). <br />(3) Any wells that do not intercept federal coal resources shall be plugged and abandoned by standards <br />set by the state of Colorado, through the existing mine permit or other agreements with [he Colorado <br />Division of Mined Land. <br />(3) Kerr's August 12, 2002 date of completion of plugging and abandonment is satisfactory. Some <br />areas within the exploration license contain seasonal sage grouse stipulations, as well as wet and fragile <br />soil conditions that may occur until the onset of summer. <br />(4) Any wells that will be considered for beneficial use shall have casings equal to or greater than 4 inch <br />diameter. Water quality and quantity data will be required of these wells (sample data and pump test <br />less than 2 years old). The BLM will be the sole party to decide if such wells will be put to beneficial <br />use, or will be plugged under the above standards on BLM lands. <br />