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STATE OF COLORADO
<br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
<br />Department of Natural Resources
<br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215
<br />Denver, Colorado 80203
<br />Phone: (303) 8663567
<br />FAX: (303) 832.8106
<br />May 1 1, 2006
<br />Jack Byers
<br />Department of Naturnl Resources
<br />Division of Water Resources
<br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 818
<br />Denver, CO 80203
<br />Re: Sanborn Creek and Elk Creek Mine (Permit No. C-1981-022)
<br />Technical Revision Application No. 54 (TR-54)
<br />Gob Vent Boreholes, Pads and Associated Light Use Roads
<br />Dear Mr. Byers:
<br />COLORADO
<br />D I V l S[ O N O F
<br />MINERALS
<br />GEOLOGY
<br />RECLANATION•MINING
<br />EAf ETY•SCIENCE
<br />Bill Owens
<br />Governor
<br />Russell George
<br />Executive Director
<br />Ronald W. Canany
<br />Division Direcor
<br />Natural Resource Trustee
<br />The Division of Minerals and Geology hereby issues notice, in accordance with Title 34, Article 33, Section 116, Paragraph 4,
<br />of the Colorado Revised Statutes, that on May 10, 2006, an application to revise coal mining operations a[ the Sanborn Creek
<br />and Elk Creek Mine was considered complete for the purposes of filing. The revision was submitted by Oxbow Mining, LLC.
<br />All review and comment periods as provided in the Act and the Regulations initiate from this date of filing.
<br />Oxbow Mining, LLC has submitted a technical revision for the Elk Creek and Sanborn Creek Mines. The revision involves the
<br />drilling of 1 I additional gob vent boreholes (GVB's) for the Elk Creek mine. The revision also includes the construction of drill
<br />pads and associated light-use roads. The GVB's will all be drilled on US Forest Service lands. The USFS has initiated [heir
<br />NEPA process. Oxbow Mining, LLC is proposing to disturb an additional 4.4 acres with the drilling and associated
<br />construction activities. There will be an increase in the mine's reclamation liability associated with this revision. The new
<br />liability amount will be determined by the Division as a part of the adequacy review.
<br />The underground coal mining operation is on land located approximately 0 miles North of Somerset, Colorado. The permit
<br />area is further described as follows:
<br />Portions of Section 31, Township 12 South, Range 90 West;
<br />Portions of Sections 34, 35 and 36, Township 12 South, Range 91 West;
<br />Portions of Sections I, 2, 3, 4, 5, all of 6 and 7, Portions North of the North Fork of the Gunnison River in Sections 8, 9, I Q,
<br />portions of Sections 1 I, 12, and 17, Township 13 South, Range 90 West;
<br />Portions of Sections I-3, I I-13, Township 13 South, Range 91 West of the 6th P.M.
<br />The above-mentioned tracts of land are shown on USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangle map of Somerset.
<br />The applicant is required to publish notice in a local newspaper [ha[ this application has been deemed complete. At the time of
<br />publication of this notice, the applicant is additionally required to place a copy of this application at the Delta County Clerk and
<br />Recorder, 501 Palmer, Delta, CO 81416, and at the Division office. For additional information or to provide written comments,
<br />contact the Division of Minerals and Geology, Room 215, 1313 Sherman Street, Denver, Colorado 80203, (303) 866-3567. In
<br />order for us to'comply with regulatory time frames, we request that comments be submitted within fifteen (15) days of this
<br />letter. If no comments are received by then, we will proceed on [he assumption that you have no concerns with, or objections
<br />to, the applicant's proposal.
<br />Sincerely,
<br />~/
<br />James R. Stark
<br />n nm n a o ec Ion pecla Is
<br />~c-~~~t9~ozz IRS zoo6osll toatzrm Office of Colorado
<br />Min n ec amaUOn Active and InaRive Mines Geological Survey
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