GENERAL32391

• Permit No: C1989074
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 8/23/2001
• Doc Name: RIMROCK STRIP MINE PN C-89-074 REGULATORY QUESTIONS
• From: DMG
• To: RANDALL AND BLAKE INC
• Permit Index Doc Type: GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Departmem o(Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Roam 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FA%. [phone]
August 23, 2001
Grant Johns
Randall and Blake, Inc.
P.O. Box 669
Glenwood Springs, CO 81602
Re: Rimrock Strip Mine (Permit No. C-89-074)
Regulatory Questions
Dear Mr. Johns:
DIVISION OF
MINERALS
GEOLOGY
RECLAMATION
MINING•SAFETY
Bill Gwens
Governor
Greg E. watcher
Executive Director
Michael B. LOng
Division Director
After our meeting on June 5, 2001, you discussed briefly with me some concerns about the
costs associated with the extended liability period and the bond release process at the
Rimrock Mine, located near Trinidad.
One of your concerns, as I understand it, was the time and expense involved in the quarterly
pond inspections required for the single sediment pond at the site. I reviewed the
Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining (revised
3/21/2001), specifically under Rule 4.05.9. This particular Rule underwent significant revision
during the March 2001 revision. Rule 4.05.9(18) allows a waiver of the quarterly sediment
pond inspections required under Rule 4.05.9(17), but this waiver may only be applied to
impoundments which are not the primary sediment control structure for a particular area.
Unfortunately, given the circumstances at the Rimrock mine, the sediment pond at the site is
the primary control structure; therefore, it is not eligible for an exemption from quarterly
inspections.
Your other concern was the time and expense associated with the vegetation sampling
requirements to demonstrate revegetation standards have been met at the site. Currently
the required amount of bond held by the Division is $30,000.00. The Division of Minerals
and Geology (DMG) can offer some assistance, in this case, under Rule 2.09.1(1) Small
Operator Assistance Program (SOAP). Review of the files indicates during original
permitting, the Rimrock mine was identified as eligible under the SOAP rules and limited
DMG assistance was provided.
The DMG proposes to offer the following assistance to Rimrock Coal Company;
DMG personnel will collect the vegetation field data using the methodology specified