GENERAL32241 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

~-- • • III IIIIIIIIIIIII III o =~~ Abe Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Co. 999 P&M Coal The Edna Mine January 10, 1984 Ms. Carol Russell Mined Land Reclamation Division 423 Centennial Building 1313 Sherman St. Denver, CO 80203-2273 Dear Ms Russell, P.O. Box 176 Oak Creek Co 80467 RECE10/ED JAN 1 1 1984 MINED LAND RECLAMATION DIVISION Colo. Dept. of Natural Resources During an inspection last autumn, MLRD identified a problem with unauthorized grazing at the Edna Mine. PZ',M requested a meeting here at the mine site to discuss the problem. However, you indicated it would be more appropriate for P$M to first submit a grazing plan to MLRD and have a follow up meeting in Denver. What follows is a brief discussion on the Mine's grazing proposal. P$M will graze sheep within the Edna Mine permit area. Graz- ing will commence in mid to late spring once the range is clear of snow. The sheep will remain through autumn until snowfall precludes grazing. A sheepherder will move the animals through the area to prevent over utilization of any location. P$M personnel will supervise the herder to insure adherence to this plan. This grazing plan is no different from what has occurred at the Mine for the last several years. P$M can find no evidence where irreparable environmental harm ]ias been caused by this type of open grazing. The revegetation data submitted with the Life of Dline Bond release request indicates the rangeland is quite pro- ductive even though it has been repeatedly grazed. Even past OSM and DiLRD inspectors have commented that this grazing practice was not damaging Edna's rangeland. However, in recent months MLRD has made an issue of unauthorized grazing since the Mine doesn't have an approved plan. In order for the Edna Mine to continue operations without the threat of enforcement action, P$M requests MLRD to approve this range management practice of open and un- restricted grazing. GuF1 ASU BSI OIARV OF GVLF OIL COPORATION TELEPHONE (3071 ]368771