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iii iuiiiiiiiiu iii <br />999 <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />MINED LAND RECLAMATION DIVISION <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215 <br />Denver. CO 80203 <br />303 866-3567 <br />FA?(: 303 832-8106 <br />November 23, 1990 <br />Ms. Kathy Hill and Ms. Paula Ozello <br />Co-Chairpersons <br />Southeastern Colorado Environmental Council <br />C.R. 74.2 # 47500 <br />Model, Colorado 81059 <br />RE: Raton Creek Mine (File C-82-055) <br />Dear Ms. Hill and Ms. Ozello: <br />pF COO <br />,~F _^ R <br />9~ <br />N°.'~ ~l <br />• .~ tea]/ a <br />~ rB 76 ~ <br />Roy Romer. <br />Govemar <br />Fred R. Banta. <br />Division Drtector <br />The Division has received your letter of concern regarding the Energy Fuels <br />Raton Creek Mine. I will try to answer the questions you have posed in your <br />letter. <br />At this time the mine is not permanently closed but in a status we refer to as <br />temporary cessation, which means the mining operations have been idled for a <br />period in excess of thirty days. Energy Fuels Mining Company (as required by <br />Rule 4.30.1(2)1 submitted a notice of temporary cessation on May 20, 1990. <br />This rule allows coal mining operations to remain in temporary cessation for <br />an indefinite period. However, the temporary cessation does not relieve the <br />operator of the obligation to comply with all provisions of the approved <br />permit, the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act, and the regulations <br />pursuant to the Act. To ensure compliance, the Division conducts a complete <br />inspection of the mine on a quarterly basis. <br />When a mine is permanently closed, the operator is responsible for reclaiming <br />the mine in accordance with their approved reclamation plan. The work is to <br />initiate as soon as the operation has completed the approved mine plan, The <br />implementation of the reclamation plan is overseen by the Division on a <br />monthly basis through on-site inspections. If an operator abandons a site, <br />the Division forfeits the performance bond that the operator has posted and <br />performs the reclamation according to the approved plan through the use of <br />private contractors. <br />Energy Fuels Mining Company posted a reclamation bond for the reclamation of <br />this site in the amount of E217,370. This amount was reviewed as Dart of the <br />mid-term review this past spring and found adequate to cover the cost of <br />reclamation should the Division need to perform the reclamation as outlined <br />above. <br />