REV15373

• Permit No: C1981022
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 5/11/2006
• Doc Name: Completeness Letters
• From: DMG
• To: OSM & Fish & Wildlilfe
• Type & Sequence: TR54
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
May 11, 2006
Carl Johnston
Office of Surface Mining
Western Regional Coordinating Center
P.O. Box 46667
Denver, CO 80201-6667
Re: Sanborn Creek and Elk Creek Mine (Permit No. C-1981-022)
Technical Revision Application No. 54 (TR-54)
Gob Vent Boreholes, Pads and Associated Light Use Roads
Dear Mr. Johnston:
COLORADO
DIVISION O F
MINESRALS
GEOLOGY
0.EC EANATION•NINING
SAf ETY•SCIENCE
Bill Owens
Governor
Russell GeoBe
Executive Director
Ronald W. Cattany
Division Director
Natural Resource Trustee
The Division of Minerals and Geology hereby issues notice, in accordance with Title 34, Article 33, Section 116,
Paragraph 4, of the Colorado Revised Statutes, that on May 10, 2006, an application to revise coal mining
operations at the Sanborn Creek and Elk Creek Mine was considered complete for the purposes of filing. The
revision was submitted by Oxbow Mining, LLC. All review and comment periods as provided in the Act and the
Regulations initiate from this date of filing.
Oxbow Mining, LLC has submitted a technical revision for the Elk Creek and Sanborn Creek Mines. The revision
involves the drilling of l ladditional gob vent boreholes (GVB's) for the Elk Creek mine. The revision also
includes the construction of drill pads and associated light-use roads. The GVB's will all be drilled on US Forest
Service lands. The USFS has initiated their NEPA process. Oxbow Mining, LLC is proposing to disturb an
additional 4.4 acres with the drilling and associated construction activities. There will be an increase in the mine's
reclamation liability associated with this revision. The new liability amount will be determined by the Division as
apart of the adequacy review.
Oxbow Mining, LLC. completed a T & E species block clearance study of the entire Sanbom Creek and Elk
Creek Mine in August 2005. This was forward to you on 24 February 2006. The Division is requesting that you
prepare a Biological Assessment (BA) based on the information in that report, and, if necessary, coordinate with
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFS) to obtain their concurrence. Please provide a BA and your
recommendation regarding TR-54 within 30 days of receipt of this letter. Please copy your recommendation to my
attention at the letterhead address.
The underground coal mining operation is on land located approximately 0 miles North of Somerset, Colorado.
The permit area is further described as follows:
Portions of Section 31, Township 12 South, Range 90 West;
Portions of Sections 34, 35 and 36, Township 12 South, Range 91 West;
Portions of Sections I ; 2, 3, 4, 5, al I of 6 and 7, Portions North of the North Fork of the Gunnison River in Sections
8, 9, 10, portions of Sections 11, 12, and 17, Township 13 South, Range 90 West;
Portions of Sections 1-3, 1 I-13, Township 13 South, Range 91 West of the 6th P.M.
The above-mentioned tracts of land are shown on USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangle map of Somerset.
Office of Office of Colorado
Mined Wnd Reclamation ~ Active and Inactive Mines Geological Survey