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iii iiiiiiiiiiiuiii <br />COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH <br />Dedicated to protecting and improvingg the health and <br />environment of the people o(Colorado <br />4300 Cherry Creek Dr. S. <br />Denver, Colorado 80222-1530 <br />Phone (3031 692-2000 <br />Laboratory Bulding <br />4210 E. 11th Avenue <br />Denver, Colorado 80220-3716 <br />(3031691-4700 <br />February 2, 199.4 <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />of cow <br />A~ ~ q <br />Ne ~~ <br />. ~ . <br />~ 18T6 ~ <br />xoy rso~ner <br />Govr?rror <br />Patricia A. Nolan, MD, MPH <br />F.aecvuve Director <br />n <br />~. <br />~- <br />,: , <br />Mr. James Tatum <br />8703 Bonhomme <br />Houston, TX 77074 <br /> <br /> <br />Dear Mr. Tatum: <br />The Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Division of Minerals <br />and Geology has requested the Colorado Department of Health, Air <br />Pollution Control Division to respond to. your concerns regarding <br />the Air Pollution Control Division's requirements for coal mine <br />exhaust, specifically the "exhaust fan" and associated emissions <br />from the Golden Eagle Mine in Las Animas County, Colorado. <br />The fan used to exhaust the mine gas is an 8 foot diameter, 500 hp, <br />electrically powered unit. This fan does exhaust a large volume of <br />warmed methane gas. The discolored vegetation in the vicinity of <br />the fan exhaust is thought to be a result of the temperature <br />changes which the vegetation undergoes and/or the displacement of <br />carbon dioxide by the methane. <br />Methane is a compound for which the Air Pollution Control Division <br />does not require a permit or the filing of an air pollution <br />emission notice (APEN). Currently, methane is not a regulated <br />pollutant in Colorado. Prior to 1992 an emission permit was <br />required for the emission of methane, but 1992 Colorado legislation <br />exempted methane from the regulatory requirements because it has <br />been determined to have a negligible impact on air quality. <br />Additional mine exhaust emissions are also low enough in volume to <br />be exempted from permitting and APEN requirements. <br />The Colorado Department of Health, Air Pollution Control Division <br />will continue to monitor the exhaust gases from the Golden Eagle <br />Mine in Las Animas County and enforce the rules, regulations, and <br />permit conditions which apply to this facility. <br />Please feel free to contact me at (303) 692-3153 at your <br />convenience should you have any further questions or need <br />additional information about this situation. <br />