REP51454 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

STATE OF COLORADO DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY Department of Natural Resources 1313 Sherman St., Room 215 C O L D RA D Denver, Colorado 80203 DIVISION O F Phone: (303) 866-3567 MIN &RA L S FAX: (303) 832-8106 G l: O L O G Y REC LAMATION•M WING SAFETY•SQ ENCE Date: March 24, 2005 Bill Owens .Sandra Whlte Governor Environmental S ecialist P Russell George Executive Director 29515 Routt County Road #27 Ronald W. Canany Oak Creek, CO 80467 Division Director Natural Resource Trustee Re: 2004 ARR review, Eagle Mine Complex, C-1981-044 Dear Ms. White: RAG-Empire Corporation/BTU-Empire's 2004 Annual Reclamation Report was received on February 17, 2005. RAG-ECBTU-Empire provided the 2004 Annual Reclamation Report on the new report forms downloaded from the Division's website. RAG-EC/BTU-Empire's first cover letter, dated February 14, 2005, states that, "no reclamation work was conducted during 2004." A revised cover letter was sent out later the same date correcting this statement to account for reclamation conducted at No. 5 Portal area. RAG-ECBTU-Empire conducted backfill, grading, topsoil replacement, and seeding on 3.2 acres at the No. 5 Portal azea in January 2004. The Annual Reclamation Report needs to provide information regazding topsoil replacement thicknesses, seed mix planted, and proof of the proper seed mix applied. Copies of the seed tags from the bags of seed can provide appropriate evidence of the seed applied. RAG-E/BTU-EC provided a map showing herbicide application locations in the Annual Reclamation report. The 2004 Annual Reclamation Report and map do not indicate what herbicide was applied, dates of spraying or weed species being managed. Please provide this information. Several discrepancies were noted on the 2004 Annual Reclamation Report form. RAG-EC/BTU-Empire reported that total acres disturbed equals 415.61. This value is 6.4 acres less than DMG's records and RAG-EC/BTU-Empire's value of 422 reported in 2003 and preceding years. For the "Entire Life of Mine" total values, the total number of acres disturbed is reported as 415.61 acres in this location too. Please provide an explanation on the difference in total disturbed acres reported. No acreage was removed from the permit area in 2004. Please correct this discrepancy. The 2004 Annual Reclamation Report indicates that the cumulative total of acreage backfilled, topsoiled and seeded (reclaimed) is 256.6. The 2003 report indicated 258.81 acres were previously vegetated. Adjusting for the 3.2 acres reclaimed in 2004, this is an overall reduction of 5.41 acres. Please provide an explanation of this difference in vegetated acreage. RAG-EC/BTU-Empire also reported that 0 acres have been phase I, II or III bond released. SL-O1 was approved February 21, 1990, which provided for phase I, II, and III release on 20.0 acres at the Town Loadout. Please include these acres in the Life of Mine bond release totals. Office of Office of Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Active and Inactive Mines Geological Survey