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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 />July 1, 2009
<br />Assistant State Supervisor
<br />Fish and Wildlife Enhancement
<br />U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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<br />Grand Junction, CO 81506-3904
<br />Re: Peabody Sage Creek Mine (Permit No. C-2009-087)
<br />New Permit Application
<br />Dear Sir or Madam:
<br />COLORADO
<br />D I V I S I O N O F
<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 hereby issues notice, in accordance with Title 34, Article 33,
<br />Section 118, Paragraph 3 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, that on June 30, 2009, an application for a permit to
<br />conduct coal mining operations at the Peabody Sage Creek Mine was considered complete for the purposes of
<br />filing. All review and comment periods as provided in the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act and
<br />the Rules and Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining initiate from this date
<br />of filing.
<br />The applicant, Sage Creek Coal Company, LLC, proposes to conduct underground coal mining operations on land
<br />located approximately 9 miles south and east of Hayden. The permit area is further described as follows:
<br />Township 5 North, Range 87 West, all or portions of Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21 and
<br />22; and Township 6 North, Range 87 West, all or portions of Sections 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36
<br />The above-mentioned tracts of land are shown on USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangle maps of Mount Harris, Milner,
<br />Rattlesnake Butte, and Dunckley.
<br />The applicant's proposal is for a new mining and reclamation permit that would allow development of room-and-
<br />pillar underground mine workings and surface facilities, in advance of future long-wall workings that may be
<br />proposed in a subsequent revision to this new permit.
<br />The Division is coordinating with the Office of Surface Mining on evaluation of the potential for impacts to
<br />threatened or endangered species of plants or animals, or wildlife species otherwise protected by federal law. In
<br />order for us to approve this permit, we are required to make a finding that "the activities would not affect the
<br />continued existence of endangered or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of
<br />their critical habitats as determined under the Endangered Species Act of 1973". The OSM will prepare the
<br />biological assessment necessary for approval based on the information provided in the application, and OSM will
<br />coordinate with your office if necessary. This coordination is required to ensure mitigation of potential impacts to
<br />federally protected wildlife species.
<br />Office of Office of
<br />Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines
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