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<br />STATE OF COLUi~UU
<br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
<br />Department of Natural Resources
<br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215
<br />D I v 15 l O N o f
<br />Denver, Colorado 80203 }
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<br />Phone: f303) 8663567 MINERAL S
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<br />FAX: 1303)832-8106 ` &
<br />3~0 1 GEOLOGY
<br /> RECLAMATION
<br />December 7, 2001 MINING•SAFETY
<br />
<br />West Regional Wildlife Manager Bill Owens
<br /> cOVef~o,
<br />Colorado Division of Wildlife
<br /> Greg E. Walther
<br />West Regional Service Center E.ecWwe Dueaor
<br />71 ] Independent AVe. Michael B. Long
<br />Grand ]unction, CO 81505 Division Dlreclor
<br />Re: Colowyo Coal Mine (Permit No. C-1981-019)
<br />Technical Revision Application No. 52 (TR-52)
<br />Revise Seed Mix, Variance in Depths of Topsoils, More Extensive Strip Seeding
<br />Dear West Regional Wildlife Manager:
<br />The Division of Minerals and Geology hereby issues notice, in accordance with Title 34, Article 33, Section 1 l6,
<br />Paragraph 4, of the Colorado Revised Statutes, that on December 4, 2001, an application to revise coal mining
<br />operations at the Colowyo Coal Mine was considered complete for the purposes of filing. The revision was
<br />submitted by Colowyo Coal Company L.P. All review and comment periods as provided in the Act and the
<br />Regulations initiate from this date of filing.
<br />This proposed technical revision to the Permit C-81-O19 Application Package revises the seed mix used to reclaim
<br />disturbed lands and protect topsoil, provides for the ability to vary topsoil depths without prior approval, and
<br />provides for more extensive strip seeding at the Colowyo Coal Mine.
<br />The surface coal mining operation is on land located approximately 28 miles south of Craig. The permit area is
<br />further described as follows:
<br />All or portions of Sections 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, l5, 16, 17, 20, 21 and T3N, R93W; and Sections 13, 15, 22, 23,
<br />24, 26, 27, 28, 33 and 34, T4N, R93W; 6th Prime Meridian. A precise description of the Permit boundary can be
<br />found in Exhibit 1, Item 12 of the Permit Application Package.
<br />The above-mentioned tracts of land are shown on USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangle maps of Axial and Ninemile Gap.
<br />Because the above referenced technical revision application would alter previously approved permit conditions or
<br />mitigation measures, we are requesting your agency's evaluation of the proposal. Your comments and concerns
<br />relating to the adequacy of fish and wildlife resources infotmation, the fish and wildlife plan, and the reclamation
<br />plan as it relates to fish and wildlife considerations, including potential impacts to threatened or endangered
<br />species, are requested. L` wildlife habitat is the proposed postmining land use, we request your evaluation of
<br />proposed woody plant stocking levels, planting arrangements, and methods for mitigation of potential adverse
<br />impacts.
<br />A copy of the technics] revision is enclosed. Please advise us if you require additional information.
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