Laserfiche WebLink
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 />COLORADO <br />D I V I S ION OF <br />RECLAMATION <br />MINING <br />SAFETY <br />May 5, 2009 sill Ritter, Jr. <br /> Governor <br />Budd John & Elizabeth Harris D. Sherman <br />1601 S. Lansing St Executive Director <br />Aurora, Co 80012 Ronald W. Cattany <br /> Division Director <br /> <br />RE: Termination of Jurisdiction, Trinidad Basin Mine, Permit No. C-81-048 Natural Resource Trustee <br />Dear Sir or Madam: <br />The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (Division) has begun the process of terminating its <br />jurisdiction over the reclaimed Trinidad Basin Coal Mine (TBM). The permit area and mine site are located about 5.5 <br />miles west of the Ludlow exit on I-25 in Delagua Canyon in Las Animas County. The disturbed and reclaimed areas are <br />in Sections 15 and 22, T31 S R65W of the 61h Principle Meridian. The permit area under consideration for termination of <br />jurisdiction and final liability release is approximately 1125 acres of which approximately 250 acres was disturbed for <br />surface operations and subsequently reclaimed. You are being notified as a surface and/or mineral owner in, or adjacent, <br />to the permit area in accordance with the Rules for termination of jurisdiction. <br />The TBM coal mine was originally permitted by Trinidad Basin Mining, Inc., approved by the Division in 1982. The <br />projected life of the mine was five years based on an annual production of 240,000 tons per year. Due to a pattern of <br />violations that occurred in late 1983 and early 1984, the Mined Land Reclamation Board (MLRB) suspended the TBM <br />mining permit. The Division was notified by the operator of the cessation of mining operations in November 1985 and <br />the operator initiated reclamation operations. Following a another series of violations that occurred between 1985 and <br />1992, in May, 1993, tc permit was permanently revoked by the MLRB and the bond, in the amount of $132,280.00, was <br />forfeited to the State of Colorado. <br />Since the permit was revoked and the bond was forfeited, the Division has completed reclamation at the site utilizing all <br />of the available bond monies. The Division has conducted regular and periodic inspections to document any undesirable <br />conditions or instability in the reclamation work completed. Stability of the reclaimed land, successful revegetation of <br />grasses, forbs and shrubs, minimization of hydrologic impacts within the permitted area, and prevention of hydrologic <br />impacts outside the permitted area demonstrate that the site has been successfully reclaimed over the past 12 years. <br />Current post-mining land use of rangeland for cattle grazing and ranchette development has been achieved and <br />demonstrated over the revegetation liability period. <br />This notification requires no specific action on your part. If you have any questions, you may contact me at the phone <br />number listed above. The Division will also be conducting a final inspection during the summer 2009, at a time yet to be <br />determined. Should you desire to attend this inspection, please contact me for a specific date and time. <br />Sincer y, <br />Kent Gorham <br />Environmental Protection Specialist III <br />Certified Mail No: 7003 1680 0000 6431 4511 <br />Return Receipt Requested <br />Office of Office of <br />Minad I and Rorlamatinn