2008-12-11_REVISION - C1981019

• Permit No: C1981019
• IBM Index Class Name: REVISION
• Doc Date: 12/11/2008
• Doc Name: Wildlife Issues
• From: DRMS
• To: Colorado Division of Wildlife
• Type & Sequence: TR72
• Email Name: SB1
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203 O RA D O

Phone: [phone]
SION O F
IRECUMATIN
O
FAX: [phone] I N I N G

AF ETY
December 11, 2008
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
Jon Wangnil and Brian Holmes Harris D. Sherman
Colorado Division of Wildlife Executive Director
P.O. Box 1181 Ronald W. Cattany

Meeker
CO 81641 Division Director
, Natural Resource Trustee
RE: Colowyo Mine, Permit No. C-1981-019
TR-72, Wildlife Issues
Dear Jon and Brian:
The reason I am contacting you is because the Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety
(DRMS) consults with the Division of Wildlife during permit reviews on wildlife resources that
may be impacted by proposed coal mining operations. Representatives of DRMS have met with
Jon Wangnil and Brad Petch on several occasions over the past couple of years and I understand
that Brian will also be involved with wildlife evaluations on proposed mining activities at the
Colowyo Mine. To provide some background, the Coal Program operates under the Colorado
Surface Coal Mining Act and the Regulations promulgated under that Act, the Regulations of the
Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining:
(http://www.mining.state.co.uslrulesregs/Coal%2OReizulations%209%2014%2005 ndf ).
The guiding wildlife regulations are listed below.
1. Pre-mining wildlife baseline data, threatened/endangered species and important
habitat in a proposed mine area for the baseline data (Rule 2.04.11)
2. Mitigation of Surface Coal mining operations - Fish and Wildlife 2.05.6(2)
3. For areas with a wildlife postmining land use minimum stocking levels, planting
arrangements and methods for mitigation of potential adverse impacts must be
determined on the basis of local and regional conditions after consultation with
and approval by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. (Rule 4.15.8(7).
4. Protection of Fish, Wildlife, and Related Environmental Values (Rule 4.18).
We are currently reviewing a technical revision to the permit (TR-72) in which Colowyo Coal
Company is proposing to change their reclamation plan. We have been in discussions with
Colowyo on the possible changes to their plan for quite some time and a revision was submitted
Office of
Mined Land Reclamation
Denver • Grand Junction • Durango
Office of
Active and Inactive Mines