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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 />March 21, 2008
<br />Rob Ernst
<br />U.S. Bureau of Land Management
<br />Little Snake Field Office
<br />455 Emerson St.
<br />Craig, CO 81625
<br />Re: Colowyo Coal Mine (Permit No. C-1981-019)
<br />Technical Revision Application No. 72 (TR-72)
<br />Revised Reclamation Plan
<br />Dear Mr. Ernst:
<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 hereby issues notice, in accordance with Title 34, Article 33, Section 116,
<br />Paragraph 4, of the Colorado Revised Statutes, that on March 21, 2008, an application to revise coal mining operations at the
<br />Colowyo Coal Mine was considered complete for the purposes of filing. The revision was submitted by Colowyo Coal
<br />Company L.P.. All review and comment periods as provided in the Act and the Regulations initiate from this date of filing.
<br />The Colowyo Coal Company has submitted a Technical Revision for the Colowyo Mine to change their reclamation plan.
<br />Colowyo is changing the reclamation plan based on Stipulation 8, which was attached to the permit during the approval of
<br />Permit Revision 02, and addresses changes based on knowledge gained over the past 20+ years of mining and reclamation. The
<br />revision also includes proposed changes to vegetation success standards. This Technical Revision does change some of the
<br />mine's reclamation practices but, at this point, it is unknown whether there will be any changes to the reclamation cost estimate
<br />or bond. No new lands are proposed for inclusion in the permit boundary or disturbed boundary.
<br />The surface coal mining operation is on land located approximately 28 miles South of Craig, Colorado. The permit area is
<br />further described as follows:
<br />All or portions of Sections 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21 and T3N, R93W; and Sections 13, 15, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27,
<br />28, 33 and 34, T4N, R93 W; 6th Prime Meridian.
<br />The above-mentioned tracts of land are shown on USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangle map of Axial and Nine Mile Gap.
<br />The applicant is required to publish notice in a local newspaper that this application has been deemed complete. At the time of
<br />publication of this notice, the applicant is additionally required to place a copy of this application at the Moffat County Clerk
<br />and Recorder, 221 West Victory Way, Craig, CO 81625, and at the Division office. For additional information or to provide
<br />written comments, contact the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, Room 215, 1313 Sherman Street, Denver,
<br />Colorado 80203, (303) 866-3567. In order for us to comply with regulatory time frames, we request that comments be
<br />submitted within fifteen (15) days of this letter. If no comments are received by then, we will proceed on the assumption that
<br />you have no concerns with, or objections to, the applicant's proposal.
<br />Sincerely,
<br />James R. Stark
<br />Environmental Protection Specialist
<br />JRS/Ahd
<br />Office of
<br />Office
<br />Mln(1d:' 1(4f l*4aThA3_c1981019_JRS_03212008011609.doc Denver • Grand Junction • Durango ti
<br />Active and inactive Mines
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