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StsveHlnehmen,WSERC 49701527.5307 11122199 04'49 PM ^2/4 <br />• • <br />As part of this suggestion, WSERC would like to request a public hearing in order to discuss the <br />protection of the interests of the public and affected landowners if any of the proposed actions are approved <br />andlor constructed. However, prior to any public hearing WSERC would like to request additional <br />information be provided. The following is a list of some of our questions and concerns: <br />• Will the proposed conveyor systems be covered? <br />• How will Bowie minimize blowing coal dust from the proposed conveyors? <br />• How will Botvie minimize blowing coal dust from the proposed stockpile? <br />• What will be the resulting changes in truck haW traffic on state highways? <br />• What will be the impact to state highway structures and maintenance? <br />• What will be the impact to highway safety and other traffic? <br />• Will the haW trucks be covered (air qualit}' and safety issues)? <br />• What will be the air quality impacts from those traffic increases and from dust entering the air <br />from road dust, truck exhaust, and the coal load? <br />• What is the baseline air quality at the mine site and along the haul road now? <br />• Will Bowie need to seek changes in its air quality permit? <br />• If the current air quality permit is limited to the mine boundaries, will a second air quality permit <br />be required for additional mine-related impacts occurring off site: or in between the two permit <br />locations? <br />• How will Bowie deal with reports of surface water runoff from its facilities contaminating <br />adjacent irrigation ditches? <br />• Will lighting and noise from these facilities be muted or mitigated? <br />• What light and noise levels will occur by day, and by night? <br />• What are baseline conditions now and how will nearby residents and wildlife be affected? <br />• What is the expected life of the longwall: and what coal reserves will be mined? <br />• What are the specific impacts of expanded production by Bowie on land surface, water. wildlife, <br />natural and community resowces? <br />• What are the cumulative impacts of expanded production by Bowie and nearby mines on land <br />surface, water, wildlife, natural and community resources? <br />As the are sure you are aware, many of these same issues are being considered by the federal Bweau <br />of Land Management in a pending Environmental Impact Statement for new federal coal leases being <br />requested by Bowie, and by as adjacent mine, Oxbow Carbon and Minerals, Inc. Moreover, this information <br />is being gathered, in part, for exactly the same proposal -expansion of the Bowie #2 mine from a room and <br />pillar operation in fee coal to a longwall operation in federal coal. <br />Due to this overlap, we recommend that the state coordinate its information gathering processes wiUr <br />the BL.M -both to collect public comment and to provide information to interested publics. Moreover, this <br />would prevent wastefW duplication of efforts and allow for full analysis of impacts. In addition, the <br />recommend that DMG ask other state agencies to become involved to answer questions that are not DMG' s <br />area of expertise. For example, could the Department of Transportation be involved to answer questions <br />about highway use? <br />Perhaps even more importantly, coordinating with other involved agencies may result in a better <br />project. Although we recognize that the Colorado Joint Review Process sunset in 1996, we want to point out <br />that this community used this process quite successfully to mitigate and resolve conflicts from previous coal <br />mine construction projects that would have otherwise negatively affected the economy and quality of life in <br />ow counties. Even though state law no longer requires coordination among local, state and federal agencies, <br />