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Mr. John Spangler - 4 - February 1, 1991 Item 5a:-= Removal of Rifle Coadout from the Permit Area Eastside Coal Company has been requested to address certain questions concerning operations during the permit term and for the life of the mine. Specifically, we have requested Eastside to indicate whether or not they anticipate a new coal loadout to be needed anytime during this permit term ar during the life of the mine. If not, we have asked that they specifically address their D1ans for transporting coal to market and further, that they address the issue which you raised concerning the existence of plans for a power plant in Harvey Gap adjacent to the mine. We have asked that Eastside submit their written response to these issues by March 1, 1991. Based on their response we will determine if a revision to the permit is warranted and we will act accordingly. Item-5b:~=-Blowing Coal-Dust Officials with the Air Pollution Control Division (APCD) in Denver and Grand Junction have been contacted regarding the concerns you have raised with blowing coal dust during coal stockpiling, loading and hauling activities. Currently, no coal is stockpiled on site and the mine is not operating, so the potential for excessive dust generation is minimal. APCD has indicated that they will inspect the site upon resumption of operations to order to insure that the operation is in compliance with the APCD permits and determine if any further control measures are warranted and feasible. Hydrologic monitoring conducted to date on the stream above and below the mine site has not indicated problems resulting from the operation nor have we received any complaints from downstream water users. However, we will closely evaluate the stream above and below the mine site in future inspections to determine if evidence of coal dust contamination exists, and if so, what measures might need to be taken to address the problem. Your letter indicates that some domestic use is made of the water in the Farmer's Irrigation Ditch immediately downstream of the mine. No mention of domestic use or potential impacts on such use is made in the Eastside permit application. Officials with the Silt Water Conservancy District were contacted and they indicated that while the water was not used for drinking, there was likely some use of the water in small quantities for other domestic purposes. We have requested that Eastside address the issue of domestic use and possible impacts to such use in a written response by March 1, 1991. If necessary, we will require that the permit application be revised to address the domestic use of Farmer's Ditch water downstream from the permit area, and to identify the potential impacts of the operation on such uses. Item 5c: '= Spontaneous-Combustion and Blowing of Fine Coal As stated previously, the Air Pollution Control Division has indicated that they will inspect the operation to determine if additional measures are necessary to control blowing coal dust. With respect to spontaneous combustion of stockpiled coal, Eastside's statement that removal of the coal would reduce the potential for spontaneous combustion is certainly true, but does not constitute an admission that the coal stockpile had not been properly handled prior to removal.