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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: 1303) 866-3567
<br />FAX: (303) 8328106
<br />October 1, 2007
<br />Tom Speue
<br />SW Regional Wildlife Manager
<br />Colorado Division of Wildlife
<br />SW Regional Service Center
<br />415 Turner Drive
<br />Durango, CO 81303
<br />Re: West Elk Mine (Permit No. C-1980-007)
<br />Permit Revision Application No. 12 (PR-12)
<br />Addition of Dry Fork Lease COC-67232
<br />Dear Mr. Spezze:
<br />COLORADO
<br />DIVISION OF
<br />RECLAMATION
<br />MINING
<br />-&-
<br />SAFETY
<br />Bill Ritter, lr.
<br />Governor
<br />Hares D. Sherman
<br />Executive Director
<br />Ronald W. Canany
<br />Division Director
<br />Natural Resource Tmstee
<br />The Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety hereby issues notice, in accordance with Title 34, Article 33,
<br />Section 118, Paragraph 3, of the Colorado Revised Statutes, that on October 1, 2007, an application to revise coal
<br />mining operations at the West Elk Mine was considered complete for the purposes of filing. All review and
<br />comment periods as provided in the Act and the Regulations initiate from this date of filing.
<br />The operator proposes to expand the underground mine workings by approximately 1,517 acres and expand the
<br />permit area by approximately 1,767 acres. This land and coal are federally-owned and are located in Gunnison
<br />County in parts of Sections 35 and 36, T13S, R90W, and in parts of Sections 1, 2, 1 I, and 12, T14S, R90W. No new
<br />disturbance on the land surface is proposed.
<br />The underground coal mining operation is on land located approximately 9 miles east of Paonia, Colorado. The
<br />permit azea is further described as follows:
<br />Portions of Section 29, 30, 31, and 32, Township 12 South, Range 90 West;
<br />Portions of Sections 25, 26, 27, 34, 35 and 36, Township 12 South, Range 91 West;
<br />Portions of Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, all of 6 and 7, Portions North of the North Fork of the Gunnison River in Sections
<br />8, 9, 10, portions of Sections 11, 12, 17, and 18, Township 13 South, Range 90 West;
<br />Portions of Sections 1-3, I I-13, Township 13 South, Range 91 West;
<br />Portions of Sections 6 & 7, Township I3 South, Range 89 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 />Because the above referenced permit revision application would incorporate additional lands into the permit area or
<br />might otherwise alter previously approved permit conditions or mitigation measures, we are requesting your
<br />agency's evaluation of the proposal. Your comments and concerns relating to the adequacy of fish and wildlife
<br />resources information, the fish and wildlife plan, and the reclamation plan as it relates to fish and wildlife
<br />considerations, including potential impacts to threatened or endangered species, are requested. Your evaluation of
<br />any woody plant stocking levels, planting arrangements, and methods for mitigation of potential adverse impacts is
<br />Office of Office of
<br />Mined Land Reclamation Denver Grand Junction Durango Active and Inactive Mines
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