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STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman 6[., Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone: (303) 866-3567 <br />FAX: (303) 832-8106 <br />August 19, 2002 <br />Mr. Kelly Sanders <br />Colowyo Coal Company <br />5731 State Highway 13 <br />Meeker, Colorado 81641 <br />Re: Brush Fires <br />Dear Mr. Sanders: <br />DIVISION OF <br />MINERALS <br />GEOLOGY <br />REC IAMATION <br />MINING•SAFETY <br />Bill Owens <br />Governor <br />Greg E. Walther <br />Executive Director <br />Ronald W. Cattany <br />Acing Division Director <br />It has been brought our attention that surface coal mining operations conducted by Colowyo Coal Company <br />during the last two weeks have contributed to three small brush fires in the vicinity of the southeast corner of <br />the Colowyo Mine's East Pit. We understand that these fires occurred within the Colowyo Mine permit <br />boundary, and that Colowyo Coal Company promptly implemented fire control measures and extinguished <br />all three fires. We appreciate those efforts. <br />Given the extreme drought and fire hazard conditions in Colorado, the Division believes that any and all <br />necessary measures must be implemented to prevent wildfires. The Division is hereby directing Colowyo <br />Coal Company to conduct its surface coal mining operations so as to prevent any brush fires from occurring. <br />Fire prevention is a statewide priority. As an example, the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission recently <br />developed operator guidleines addressing the issue of fire prevention at oil and gas production sites. <br />Additionally, the Department of Natural Resources, through the Division of Forestry, is serving a key role in <br />the response to the wildfires in Colorado. <br />Please be advised that any additional brash fires resulting from coal mining operations conducted by <br />Colowyo Coal Company may become subject to Division enforcement action. We believe that statutory and <br />regulatory language regarding the protection of property, the public, and the environment from the <br />potentially adverse impacts of surface coal mining operations would be applicable. <br />We appreciate your attention to this matter. Please do not hesitate to contact me at (303) 866-4933 if you <br />have any questions. <br />Sincerely, <br />,.15~~t:Cltb~ t1/ R~~GGt~ot,c.~~~C~ <br />Daniel I. Hernandez <br />Senior Environmental Protection Specialist <br />Cc: Ronald W. Cattany, Director, Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology <br />David A. Berry, Supervisor, DMG Coal Progam <br />Byron G. Walker, DMG <br />