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ti - <br />December 6, 2001 <br />Mr. Mike Long, Director <br />Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology <br />1313 Sherman St., Rm 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />Deaz Mr. Long, <br />As you aware, the Western Slope Environmental Resource Council (WSERC) and Mountain Coal <br />Company (MCC) have reached an agreement over [he methane drainage well drilling program at the <br />West Elk Mine. This agreement addresses the controversies that have arisen over surface disturbance <br />associated with the drilling program. <br />At this point, the surface disturbance associated with the methane drainage well drilling program is <br />being evaluated by a cumulative impact analysis. MCC is obligated by state and federal law to reclaim <br />the surface disturbance associated with the drilling program, and has further agreed to work with us on <br />timely reclamation of the disturbance. Further, MCC has offered to perform additional reclamation <br />activities on Forest Service land as an offset to the disturbance associated with the drilling program. <br />It is evident that the methane drainage wells are needed to protect worker health and safety, as well as to <br />address the viability of the West Elk Mine. While not endorsing a specific drilling plan, WSERC <br />supports [he approval of MCC's methane drainage wells for longwall panels 14 through 24 as <br />expeditiously as possible. <br />Sincerely, <br />Taza Thomas <br />Executive Director <br />Box 1612, Paonia CO 81928 Phone & Fax 970/527-5307 wserc@wserc.org <br />