2008-02-11_REVISION - C1980007 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

February 7, 2008 ROCKY MOUNTAIN CLEAN AIR ACTION Heidi Van Genderen Senior Policy Analyst 136 State Capitol Denver, CO 80203 RECEIVED FEB 112008 Division of xeciamation, Mining and Safety Re: Request for Meeting with Appropriate Staff on Significant Global Warming Emissions at West Elk Mine. Dear Ms. Van Genderen: We write to you regarding methane venting from coal mining operations at the West Elk Mine and other locations in the State of Colorado. This issue is of immediate importance due to the intention of the operator of the West Elk Mine to expand its methane venting by 7 million cubic feet per day, an action that would represent an increase of over 1% of Colorado's greenhouse gas emission (when compared to 2005 levels). This single action would greatly hamper Colorado's ability to meet the greenhouse gas emission reduction targets you have articulated. Coal mine methane venting, we are leat'ning, raises serious concerns not only over its impacts to our global climate, but also about the role of the State of Colorado in regulating this activity. We would like to schcdt le a meeting with your office and appropriate staff to discuss the issue in greater detail. Our organization, along with Natural Resources Defense Council, Colorado Wild, Center for Native Ecosystems, and the Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project, recently appealed a decision by the United States Forest Service to allow the 7 million cubic feet of methane to be vented daily for the next 12 years from the West Elk Mine, which is located under a :remote region of Gunnison County. The operator, Arch Coal, is seeking to vent the methane to allow for expansion of the mine. Although we understand that the methane must be removed from the crawl for safety reasons if the mine is to expand, we .are eDncerned that options to venting, such flaring or recovering the methane, were not fully explored and objectively analyzed by the Forest Service. A copy of our appeal is attached. As the awareness of the effects of global climate change grows in our state, the contributions of previously undiscussed greenhouse gas sources, such as coal mine methane venting, need to be confronted. Not only is methane 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas, it has commercial value that reflects lost state revenues when it is vented rather than recovered. The potential to cost-effectively reduce methane emissions is extraordinary. In our efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions, it is incumbent that we take full Rey Mountain Clean Air Action . wsww.ourciean2! arc 1536 Wynkoop, Suite 302 + Denver, CO 80202 • (303) 454-3370 • rmclea?mail com