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STATE OF COLORADO
<br />DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
<br />Department of Natural Resources
<br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215
<br />Denver, Colorado 80203
<br />Phone: (303) 866-3567
<br />FAX: (303) 832-8106
<br />November 10, 2008
<br />Dick Wolfe
<br />Department of Natural Resources
<br />Division of Water Resources
<br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 818
<br />Denver, CO 80203
<br />Re: Bowie No. 2 Mine (Permit No. C-1996-083)
<br />Technical Revision Application No. 57 (TR-57)
<br />Mine Water Discharge into Somerset Mine
<br />Dear Mr. Wolfe:
<br />COLORADO
<br />D I V I S ION OF
<br />RECLAMATION
<br />MINING
<br />- Sz -
<br />SAFETY
<br />Bill Ritter, Jr.
<br />Governor
<br />Harris D. Sherman
<br />Executive Director
<br />Ronald W. Cattany
<br />Division Director
<br />Natural Resource Trustee
<br />The Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety hereby issues notice, in accordance with Title 34, Article 33, Section 116,
<br />Paragraph 4, of the Colorado Revised Statutes, that on November 10, 2008, an application to revise coal mining operations at
<br />the Bowie No. 2 Mine was considered complete for the purposes of filing. The revision was submitted by Bowie Resources,
<br />LLC. All review and comment periods as provided in the Act and the Regulations initiate from this date of filing.
<br />In Technical Revision No. 57, Bowie Resources LLC is proposing to pump mine water from the active Bowie No. 2 Mine
<br />underground B-seam workings into the adjacent underground B-seam workings of the abandoned Somerset Mine. Mine water
<br />would first be stored temporarily in a sump in the Bowie No. 2 Mine so that settleable solids could be taken out of the mine
<br />water. Then, the mine water would be pumped into the Somerset Mine through a horizontal borehole to be drilled by Bowie.
<br />Bowie has stated that the mine water in the Somerset Mine would eventually seep into the North Fork of the Gunnison River,
<br />mostly through rock outcrops. Bowie has provided water quality data in support of their contention that the transfer of mine
<br />water to surface waters would meet applicable water quality standards. Bowie has secured approval from the Mine Safety and
<br />Health Administration for the borehole.
<br />The underground coal mining operation is on land located approximately 5 miles Northeast of Paonia, Colorado. The permit
<br />area is further described as follows:
<br />Portions of Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, and 22, Township 13 South, Range 91 West of the 6th P.M.
<br />Portions of Sections 33 and 34, Township 12 South, Range 91 West of the 6th P.M.
<br />The above-mentioned tracts of land are shown on USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangle map of Bowie.
<br />The applicant is required to publish notice in a local newspaper that this application has been deemed complete. At the time of
<br />publication of this notice, the applicant is additionally required to place a copy of this application at the Paonia Public Library,
<br />140 Grand Avenue, Paonia, CO 81428, and at the Division office. For additional information or to provide written comments,
<br />contact the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, Room 215, 1313 Sherman Street, Denver, Colorado 80203,
<br />(303) 866-3567. In order for us to comply with regulatory time frames, we request that comments be submitted within fifteen
<br />(15) days of this letter. If no comments are received by then, we will proceed on the assumption that you have no concerns
<br />with, or objections to, the applicant's proposal.
<br />Sincerely,
<br />sJdash
<br />Environmental Protection Specialist
<br />M:\Ofrce id\teipp\Co -TR-03_C1996083_JJD_1 1 102008085 102.doe Office of
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<br />Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand ]unction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines
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