REV02232

• Permit No: C1981041
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 8/22/2006
• Doc Name: Land Use Change and Reclamation Plan Revision
• From: DRMS
• To: Snowcap Coal Company, Inc.
• Type & Sequence: PR3
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman SL, Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
August 22, 2006
Tonya Hammond
Snowcap Coal Company, Inc.
P.O. Qox 1430
Palisade, CO 81526
RE: Roadside Portals (Permit No. C-7981-041)
Permit Revision Application No. 3 (PR-3)
Land Use Change and Reclamation Plan Revision
Dear Ms. Hammond:
COLORADO
DIVISION OF
RECLAMATION
MINING
&-
SAFETY
Bill Owens
Governor
Russell George
Executive Director
Ronald W. Cattany
Division Director
Natural Resource Trustee
I spoke with Carl Johnston of the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) this morning regarding the referenced
permit revision application. He had just recently received our completeness notification, in which we
requested OSM assistance to prepare the biological assessment for review and concurrence by the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service (USFWS). A specific concern noted by Mr. Johnston, is that apparently, the
necessary formal consultation with USFWS regarding the effect of mine related water depletions on the
continued survival of the endangered fish species of the upper Colorado River has never been performed
for the Roadside Portals operation. This consultation will need to be completed in order for us to approve
the Permit Revision application.
[n order for OSM to initiate the formal consultation, it will be necessary for you to prepare an estimate of
the mining and reclamation related water depletions to the Colorado River, associated with the Roadside
Portals operation. This depletion estimate needs to address projected worst-case annual water depletions
for the entire operation, notjltst the portion of the operation affected by the PR-3 revision application.
Given the present status of the operations, the primary source of depletion would appear to be evaporative
loss from permit area impoundments (sediment ponds, containment sumps, and the inactive sewage
lagoons). Please provide aworst-case depletion estimate (acre-foot per year evaporative loss) for the mine
impoundments, broken down by projected loss for each impoundment. Worst-case depletion associated
with occasional road watering for dust suppression during periods of active reclamation or operational
activity associated with loadout use should also be addressed, along with any other activities that would
potentially result in water depletions to [he Colorado River.
In order to expedite the preparation of the biological assessment and USFWS consultation process, 1 would
ask that you prepare and submit the depletion estimate for inclusion in the PR-3 application (and ultimate
incorporation into the permit) as soon as practicable.
Please contact m 'you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Daniel T. athews
Environmental Protection Specialist
Carl Johnston, OSM
Dcnvcr Filc
Office of Office of
Mined Land Reclamation Active and Inactive Mines