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The application was deemed complete on May 13, 1996, and notices were provided to various local, state, and
<br /> federal agencies on that date. Public notice of the application was published in the Grand Junction Daily
<br /> Sentinel on May 20, May 27,June 3, and June 10, 1996. Copies of the application were filed with the Mesa
<br /> County Clerk and Recorder's Office,and at the Denver and Grand Junction offices of the Division. Additional
<br /> information regarding the nature of the revision application was provided to the Colorado Division of Wildlife
<br /> (DOW), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) on June 6, 1996, in response to a phone request from
<br /> DOW. Comments were received from DOW and forwarded to the operator in a preliminary adequacy letter
<br /> (PAR)of July 30, 1996. The State Historic Preservation Officer(SHPO) was advised of the application in a
<br /> letter of February 6, 1997. SHPO indicated that the revision would not result in any effects to archaeological
<br /> or historical resources, in a letter of February 12, 1997. No other public comments were received on the
<br /> application.
<br /> The Division's adequacy review was conducted with the following sequence of adequacy review letters and
<br /> response submittals from PCC:
<br /> July 30, 1996 DMG Adequacy Letter. Issues included Geology Description, Hydrology Description,
<br /> Protection of Hydrologic Balance,Hydrologic Monitoring Plan,Probable Hydrologic Consequences,and
<br /> DOW concerns (rock replacement on reclaimed areas, and updated information on species list,critical
<br /> mule deer habitat, and endangered species).
<br /> August 22, 1996 PCC letter regarding status of violations addressed in Stipulations 1 I and 13.
<br /> Information submitted was sufficient to allow for termination of the subject stipulations (see memo of
<br /> 9/4/97 from Erica Crosby to Dan Mathews).
<br /> September 8, 1996 DMG Adequacy Letter. Issues included Identification of Interests, Compliance
<br /> Information,Right of Entry and Operation Information,Premine and Postmine Land Use,Climatological
<br /> Information, Soils Information and Topsoil Handling and Replacement, Vegetation Information and
<br /> Revegetation Plan, Operation Plan and Mine Facilities, Ponds, Impoundments, and Diversions, Coal
<br /> Mine Waste and Non-Coal Processing Waste, Backfilling and Grading, Mitigation of the Impacts of
<br /> Mining Operations, Subsidence, and Experimental Practices.
<br /> October 12, 1996 PCC letter containing a conceptual plan for permit area drilling to more definitively
<br /> characterize the hydrologic characteristics of the Rollins Sandstone within the permit area(in response
<br /> to certain concerns identified in DMG letter of July 30, 1996).
<br /> October 24, 1996 DMG Reclamation Cost Estimate. The Division's cost estimate based on the PR-02
<br /> reclamation plan projected a total cost of$2,886,107.00, with CRDA-3 reclamation cost($800,871.00)
<br /> excluded. The cover letter to the estimate also identified a concern with respect to an apparent material
<br /> deficit at the Roadside South Portal Area.
<br /> November 1, 1996 DMG review letter concerning subsidence impacts. DMG forwarded one additional
<br /> request; that Powderhom obtain a statement from Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCO),
<br /> indicating that their power grid would be capable of sustaining damage to the PSCO powerline on the
<br /> permit area due to subsidence, without impact to electric service off the permit area. In partial response
<br /> to this concern,the operator submitted a letter of November 19, 1996 from PSCO, which indicated that
<br /> they "expect" their transmission lattice power structures "can withstand the relative minor subsidence
<br /> and horizontal movement". However,they planned to further evaluate the structures to better determine
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