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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) 866-3567
<br />FAX: (303) 832$106
<br />COLORADO
<br />DIVISION O F
<br />MINERALS
<br />GEOLOGY
<br />0.ECLANATION•NINING
<br />SAFETY•SCIENCE
<br /> Bill Owens
<br /> Governor
<br />February 6, 2004 Russell George
<br /> Ezecutlve Direcor
<br />Assistant State Supervisor Ronald W. Cattany
<br />Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Division Director
<br />
<br />U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Natural Resource Trustee
<br />764 Horizon Drive, South Annex A
<br />Grand Junction, CO 81506-3446
<br />Re: Deserado Mine (Permit No. C-1981-018)
<br />Permit Renewal Application No. 4 (RN-4)
<br />Deaz Sir or Madam:
<br />The Division of Minerals and Geology hereby issues notice, in accordance with Title 34, Article 33, Section 118,
<br />Pazagraph 3, of the Colorado Revised Statutes, that on February 6, 2004, an application to renew an existing permit
<br />to conduct coal mining operations at the Deserado Mine was considered complete for the purposes of filing. All
<br />review and comment periods as provided in the Colorado Surface Mining Reclamation Act and the Rules initiate
<br />from this date of filing.
<br />Blue Mountain Energy, Inc proposes to continue underground coal mining and/or reclamation operations on land
<br />located approximately 7 miles nortlreast of Rangely, Colorado. The permit area is further described as follows:
<br />Portions of Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 1Q 11, and 12, T2N, R101W, 6th PM, all in Rio Blanco County; Portions of
<br />Sections 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 34, 35, and 36, T3N, R101 W, 6th PM; All of Sections 22, 29, 32, and 33,
<br />T3N, R101 W, 6th PM, all in Rio Blanco County.
<br />The above-mentioned tracts of land are shown on USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangle map of Rangely NE.
<br />Blue Mountain Energy has submitted a permit renewal application for the Deserado Mine. The application was
<br />submitted on January 29, 2004, prior to the January 24th deadline, guaranteeing the operator the right of successive
<br />renewal. Permit Renewal No. 4 will renew the mining permit from July 2004 through July 2009.
<br />Because the above referenced permit renewal application would incorporate additional lands into the permit azea
<br />or might otherwise alter previously approved permit conditions or mitigation measures, we are requesting your
<br />agency's evaluation of the potential for impacts to threatened or endangered species of plants or animals, or
<br />wildlife species otherwise protected by federal law.
<br />In order for us to approve this renewal, we are required to make a fmding that "the activities would not affect the
<br />continued existence of endangered or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of
<br />their critical habitats as determined under the Endangered Species Act of 1973...." We request your review and
<br />recommendation pursuant to this fmding. Applicable sections of the renewal application are enclosed. Please
<br />advise us if you require additional information.
<br />Office of Office of Colorado
<br />Mined Land Reclamation Active and InaRive Mines Geological Survey
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