2008-08-18_REVISION - C1980007 (10)

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STATE OF COLORADO DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY Department of Natural Resources 1313 Sherman St., Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203 Phone: (303) 866-3567 FAX: (303) 832-8106 August 18, 2008 Assistant State Supervisor Fish and Wildlife Enhancement U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 764 Horizon Drive, South Annex A Grand Junction, CO 81506-3904 Re: West Elk Mine (Permit No. C-1980-007) Permit Revision Application No. 14 (PR-14) Methane Drainage Wells for Longwall Panels E2 Through E12 Dear Sir or Madam : COLORADO D IV IS I ON OF RECLAMATION MINING SAFETY Bill Ritter, Jr. Governor Harris D. Sherman Executive Director Ronald W. Cattany Division Director Natural Resource Trustee The Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DMG) hereby issues notice, in accordance with Title 34, Article 33, Section 118, Paragraph 3, of the Colorado Revised Statutes, that on August 18, 2008, an application to revise coal mining operations at the West Elk Mine was considered complete for the purposes of filing. All review and comment periods as provided in the Act and the Regulations initiate from this date of filing. The applicant proposes to drill up to 152 methane drainage wells to the mine's underground workings in longwall panels E-2 through E-12, during the next 12 years. The wells will be drilled within the applicant's existing coal leasehold and mining permit area, on Federal (USFS) and private lands. The total aggregate surface disturbance will be approximately 80 acres within an approximate 6-square mile area. A Federal Environmental Impact Statement was previously prepared for this project. The applicant is substituting this Permit Revision 14 for the proposed drilling project previously submitted to the Division as Technical Revision 112. The underground coal mining operation is on land located approximately 9 miles East of Paonia, Colorado. The permit area is further described as follows: All or portions of. Sections 9 through 36 (inclusive), Township 13 South, Range 90 West; Sections 23 through 26 (inclusive), Township 13 South, Range 91 West; and Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, Township 14 South, Range 90 West; all of the 6th Principal Meridian. The above-mentioned tracts of land are shown on USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangle maps of Bowie and Somerset. Because the above referenced technical revision application would incorporate additional lands into the permit area or might otherwise alter previously approved permit conditions or mitigation measures, the Division is coordinating with the Office of Surface Mining on evaluation of the potential for impacts to threatened or endangered species of plants or animals, or wildlife species otherwise protected by federal law. A copy of the permit section addressing potential effects of the operation to threatened and endangered (T&E) species has been forwarded to the Office of Surface Mining. The OSM will prepare the biological assessment necessary for approval based on the information provided in the application. The OSM will coordinate with your office as Office of Office of Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines