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iii iiiiiiiiiiiu iii 999 MOUNTAIN COAL ~~ COMPANYL.L.C. A Subsidiary of Arch Wesiem Resowces, LLC August ] 0, 2001 Mr. James Bumell Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology Office of Mined Land Reclamation 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203 ~ECEI1/Ep AU61 g Z00~ ~~sion of Minerdlg & Geolotjy West Elk Mine P O. Box 591 5174 Highway 133 Somerset, CO 81434 (970)929-5015 Fac (970) 929-5595 Re: Mountain Coal Company LLC (MCC), West Elk Mine; Permit No. C-80-007; Minor Revision 278, Submittal of Adequacy Responses for Exploration Drill Pads AAA and BBB. Deaz Mr. Bumell: As we discussed in our telephone conversation today, MCC is responding to the adequacy letter from the Division dated, 20 July 2001. The Division requested that MCC provide information regarding the depths, diameter of the holes, type of drilling and any other information regarding reclamation. First these holes and drill pads (AAA and BBB) are for exploration. The roads used to access the areas are the same roads used for the Raven Gulch Exploration License and the current Gob Vent De-gas Boreholes that were approved in MR-273 and MR-275. The pads and roads exist on the active coal lease COC 56447 and no road is required for the drilling of BBB as the pad adjoins the current access road to 14-OS and RAV-10. The exploration is necessary to address and characterize the potential for methane in the B-Seam surrounding strata. Attached to this response are an anticipated schedule, a typical drilling plan, and anticipated completion diagram for BBB. The diagrams are not yet completed for the AAA hole, but it is expected the schedule, plan, and diagram, will be similar to the BBB diagram. The pads for exploration aze smaller in size (120' x 180'), and will require a smaller mud pit than the large bore Gob Vent De-gas Boreholes. After drilling is completed it will be necessary for MCC to assess the hole to determine if the hole will be left open for a future Gob Vent De-gas Borehole. This would allow future access without disturbing the site. The area will be reclaimed and graded to approximate original contour, topsoiled, seeded, fertilized, and mulched. If the hole needs to be accessed a small two-track road would be constructed to access or to abandon the hole. The roads will be reclaimed to approximate original contour, seeded, fertilized, and mulched and lefr in a small two- track configuration to facilitate the need, if required by MCC, for future access to the mining districts to the north (Panel Nos. 18 - 24).