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STATE OF COLORADO
<br />DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
<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 />January 17, 2007
<br />Ron Velarde
<br />NW Regional Wildlife Manager
<br />Colorado Division of Wildlife
<br />N W Regional Service Center
<br />711 Independent Ave.
<br />Grand Junction, CO 81505
<br />Re: Deserado Mine (Permit No. C-1981-018)
<br />Technical Revision Application No. 63 (TR-63)
<br />Addition of Forage Kochia to the Reclamation Seed Mix
<br />Dear Mr. Velarde:
<br />COLORADO
<br />DIVISION OF
<br />RECLAMATION
<br />MINING
<br />- St
<br />SAFETY
<br />Bill Owens
<br />Governor
<br />Russell George
<br />Executive Director
<br />Ronald W. Cattany
<br />Division Director
<br />Natural Resource Trustee
<br />The Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety hereby issues notice, in accordance with Title 34, Article 33,
<br />Section 116, Paragraph 4, of the Colorado Revised Statutes, that on January 16, 2007, an application to revise coal
<br />mining operations at the Deserado Mine was considered complete for the purposes of filing. The revision was
<br />submitted by Blue Mountain Energy, Inc.. All review and comment periods as provided in the Act and the
<br />Regulations initiate from this date of filing.
<br />This revision proposes to add the plant species "forage Kochia" (Kochia prostrate} to the reclamation seed mix.
<br />This forb species is well adapted for use in the mine area, is highly productive, is palatable to livestock and
<br />wildlife, and is competitive with cheatgrass.
<br />The underground coal mining operation is on land located approximately 7 miles Northeast of Rangely, Colorado.
<br />The permit area is further described as follows: Portions of Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, and 12, T2N, 8101 W, 6th
<br />PM, all in Rio Blanco County; Portions of Sections 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 34, 35, and 36, T3N, R101 W,
<br />6th PM; All of Sections 22, 29, 32, and 33, T3N, RIOIW, 6th PM, all in Rio Blanco County. The
<br />above-mentioned tracts of land are shown on USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangle map of Rangely NE.
<br />Because the above referenced technical revision application would incorporate additional lands into the permit
<br />area or might otherwise alter previously approved permit conditions or mitigation measures, we are requesting
<br />your agency's evaluation of the proposal. Your comments and concerns relating to the reclamation plan and the
<br />addition of forage Kochia into the seed mix, as it relates to fish and wildlife considerations, including potential
<br />impacts to threatened or endangered species, are requested. A copy of the technical revision is enclosed. Please
<br />advise us if you require additional information.
<br />The applicant is required to publish notice in a local newspaper that this application has been deemed complete.
<br />At the time of publication of this notice, the applicant is additionally required to place a copy of this application at
<br />the Rio Blanco County Clerk and Recorder, P.O. Box 599, Meeker, CO 81641, and at the Division office. For
<br />additional information or to provide written comments, contact the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety,
<br />Office of Office of
<br />Mined Land Reclamation Active and Inactive Mines
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