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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 />May 29, 2009
<br />Assistant State Supervisor
<br />Fish and Wildlife Enhancement
<br />U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
<br />764 Horizon Drive, South Annex A
<br />Grand Junction, CO 81506-3904
<br />Re: Foidel Creek Mine (Permit No. C-1982-056)
<br />Permit Revision Application No. 8 (PR-8)
<br />Western Mining District Expansion
<br />Dear Sir or Madam:
<br />COLORADO
<br />D I V I S I ON OF
<br />RECLAMATION
<br />MINING
<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 (DMG) hereby issues notice, in accordance with Title 34, Article
<br />33, Section 118, Paragraph 3, of the Colorado Revised Statutes, that on May 29, 2009, an application to revise coal
<br />mining operations at the Foidel Creek Mine was considered complete for the purposes of filing. All review and
<br />comment periods as provided in the Act and the Regulations initiate from this date of filing.
<br />The applicant proposes to expand its underground development mining and underground longwall mining
<br />operations into Sections 17, 18, 19, and 20 of T5N, R86W, and Sections 13, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 34, and 35 of
<br />T5N, R87W, 6th P.M., Routt County, Colorado. The applicant proposes to add 2,540 acres of new underground
<br />mining acreage, but proposes no addition of new permit area acreage. The applicant additionally proposes no new
<br />surface disturbance area acreage. Some surface areas overlying and immediately adjacent to the proposed
<br />underground mining acreage are expected to be affected by subsidence.
<br />The underground coal mining operation is located approximately 23 miles Southwest of Steamboat Springs,
<br />Colorado. The permit area is further described as follows:
<br />In portions of Sections 7, 8, 9, T4N, R86W; Sections 32 and 33, T6N, R86W; Sections 13, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27,
<br />34, 35 and 36 in T5N, R87W; and all of T5N, R86W with the exception of Sections 34, 35, and 36.
<br />The above-mentioned tracts of land are shown on USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangle map of Rattlesnake Butte, Cow
<br />Creek, Dunckley, Milner, Mount Harris, and Oak Creek.
<br />Because the above referenced technical revision application would incorporate additional lands into the permit
<br />area or might otherwise alter previously approved permit conditions or mitigation measures, the Division is
<br />coordinating with the Office of Surface Mining on evaluation of the potential for impacts to threatened or
<br />endangered species of plants or animals, or wildlife species otherwise protected by federal law. A copy of the
<br />permit section addressing potential effects of the operation to threatened and endangered (T&E) species has been
<br />forwarded to the Office of Surface Mining. The OSM will prepare the biological assessment necessary for
<br />approval based on the information provided in the application. The OSM will coordinate with your office as
<br />necessary. This coordination is required to ensure mitigation of potential impacts to federally protected wildlife
<br />Office of Office of
<br />Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines
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