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• III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII • 999 Azurite, Inc. 11]1101 CR 12 P.O. Box 338 Cotopaxi, CO 81223 p1s) sae-a17e Fax: (719) 9a2-4178 September 2, 1997 Mr. James Dillie, Environmental Protection Specialist Mr. James Stephens, Staff Supervisor Colorado Division ofMinerals and Geology ] 313 Sherman Street Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203 Re: Petition to extend Closure time frame, permit #M-77-247 RECEIVED 5EP 0 41997 plvision of Minerals s Geology Please be advised that as agent for G-P Gypsum Corporation in regards to their Coaldale Quarry Permit #M-77-247, I wish to petition the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board to consider extending the closure time frame of Coaldale Quarry site as mandated October 15, 1995. At that time, the operation was owned by Domtar Gypsum. During the second quarter of 1996, Domtar Gypsum in its entirety including 20 gypsum wallboard plants and nine mine operations in the US and Canada were purchased by G-P Gypsum. During the third quarter of 1996, a closure plan was submitted for review by the Division of Minerals and Geology. A request by the Division for amendment submittal was made at shortly thereaRer. During the final quarter of 1996 and the first quarter of 1997, a concerted effort was made by G-P Gypsum to evaluate and prepare the Colorado operations for a potential restart, in that the ore reserve is adequate and the plant operation located east of Florence, Colorado, was still intact. It was not until late July, 199?, that the parent company of G-P Gypsum, Georgia-Pacific Corporation, decided not to underwright the 3 million start up cost of the Colorado operations. Other business opportunities involving a restart of mining operations have been entertained, but no significant mining volume can be confirmed at that time. Therefore, an amendment for closure has been developed and will be in Division hands no later than September 22, 1947. G-P Gypsum has continued to perform closure work including mined land reclamation revegetation and highwall stabilization during 1997 and will continue to pursue closure work over the next several years. However, G-P requests that the MLRB consider a 2 year extension of closure schedule to facilitate the large amount of mining work which must be performed in order to meet final reclamation standards imposed on the site. A one million dollar bond is in place, which will cover the cost of all reclamation needs as calculated in 1996. Please schedule this petition for hearing before the board at the September meeting. I would appreciate your correspondence with Mr. TC Brooks, G-P Gypsum, Atlanta, GA, as to the date and time of the hearing. Thank you for your consideration. Very Truly Yours, ,5~ Kenneth S. K(co