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STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Department of Natural Rewurce5 <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone: (303) 866-3567 <br />FAX: {303) 832-8106 <br />August 9, 1999 <br />Mr. Nathan Moore <br />Permits Unit <br />Water QDallty Protection Section <br />Water CZuality Control Division <br />Colorado Departatent of PublicHealth and Environment <br />4300 Cherry Creek Drive South <br />Derrver, Colorado 80246-1530 <br />Re: Division of Minemis and Geology, Storm Water Management Plan; Coa] Basin Mine Pond <br />Reclamation <br />Dear Mr. Moore <br />DIVISION OF <br />MINERALS <br />GEOLOGY <br />RECLAMATION <br />MINING•SAFETY <br />BiII Owens <br />Governor <br />Greg E. Walther <br />Fxecurive Director <br />Michael B. Long <br />Division DlreCtO! <br />The Colorado Division of Minemis and Geology (Division) is in the process of accomplishing reclamation <br />at the former Coal Basin lvfine. As you may know, this was a previously permitted coal mining opemflon <br />The Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board has evoked the operating permit and forfeited the <br />reclamation bond. As required by statute, the Divisiaa is aaomplisiring reclamation of the site. <br />Part of the reclanlation includes removal of the sediment containment ponds lilted az the site. These <br />ponds are covered by a CDPS permit held by Iv&d-Continent Resources, the former operator of the Mine. <br />As per previous wwersations between our agencies, the Division of Minerals and Geology is submitting a <br />Storm Water Management Plan which addresses reclamation construction to be conducted at some of the <br />sediment ponds at the Coal Basin Mine Site. The enclosed Storm Waer Management Plan addresses the <br />Best Management Practices to be employed by the Division and its contractors as the ponds are reclaimed. <br />Briefly, reclamation of the ponds will generally entail removal of the corrugated metal pipe dewatering <br />devices, and wnshuction of rock lined spillways in the pond embankments. Wetlands species would be <br />planted az the margins of the ponds. Reclamation in this manner will allow the ponds to continue to <br />function as stilling basins, while promoting the creation of constructed wetlands az each location. The <br />majority of the ponds would be reclaimed in 2000, while a few may be reclaimed in 1999. The Division <br />anticipates completing all principal reclamation activities in Coal Basin during the fall of 2000. We <br />anticipate conducting maintenance operations for a limited time following completion of reclamation <br />construction, depending on the availability of funds. When vegetation at the pond reclamation wnstruLtion <br />areas is established, the Division will apply for pemrit termination <br />This proposed plan does not include or cover the 003 outfall az Mine 5, or the 016 autfall neaz the Rock <br />Tunnel on hard owned by Mid-Con Realty, LLC, both of which may receive mine water discharges. Pond <br />017 could be included in the Storm Water Management Plan when Water Quality Control Division <br />aclatowledges that this pond does not receive mine water discharges. A tabulation of the ponds to be <br />reclaimed iD the manner descnTxd above is attached to the Management Plan. <br />The U. S. Forest Service, land managemem agency for the majority of Coal Basin, has endorsed this <br />proposal, as have Mid-Con Realty, LLC, Luld owner of the privately held properties within the former <br />permit area, and the Trostee for Mid~ontinent Resources. <br />~~ ., <br />