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RTEA - COLOWYO MINE <br />5731 State Highway 13 <br />Meeker, Colorado 81641 <br />(970) 824-1573 office <br />(970) 326-8015 cell <br />(970) 824-1598 fax <br />juan.garcia@riotinto.com <br />Juan Garcia <br />Manager, Strategic Mine Planning <br />December 5, 2007 <br />Mr. James R. Stark <br />Environmental Protection Specialist <br />Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />RECEIVED <br />VC 10 7007 <br />VIA FED EX <br />Division of Reclamation. <br />Mining and Safety <br />RE: Minor Revision No. 93, South Taylor In Pit Drilling, Colowyo Coal Mine, Permit No. C-81-019. <br />Dear Mr. Stark: <br />Enclosed please find two copies of materials provided for Minor Revision No. 93. This change involves coal <br />exploration drilling within the South Taylor Pit that is currently being developed. This drilling program will <br />give Colowyo needed information on coal quality, geologic structure, coal seam burn definition, rock core for <br />geotechnical testing, and tighter drill hole spacing. All drill sites will be well within the permitted pit footprint <br />(refer to enclosed Volume 13 Exhibit 22), on areas already topsoil stripped (the majority) or soon to be <br />stripped in preparation for the imminent upcoming mining activities. <br />All drill holes will start at the surface and penetrate no deeper than the bottom of the planned pit floor or, <br />stated another way, no deeper than the floor of the G8 coal seam. Typically, 2 separate drill holes will be <br />drilled on each drill site, the first being a pilot hole and the second being the core hole. All drill holes will be <br />surveyed for x, y, z coordinates after being drilled. All drill holes will not be backfilled with bentonite plug <br />gel/chips and will be left open to depth since they will soon be mined through during the course of normal pit <br />mining activities. If for some unforeseen reason the pit does not mine through any given drill hole, that drill <br />hole will be relocated and sealed in accordance with the rules. A rock will be placed on the top of all open <br />drill holes to prevent tripping/falling hazard for persons or animals. <br />No additional bonding will be required for surficial or subsurface work. Colowyo proposes to report on the <br />status of mining through drill holes by incorporating that information into the Annual Reclamation Report. <br />Colowyo would like to start this drilling program as soon as possible, and will assist the Division in any <br />manner to help expedite the approval process. Thank you for your time and attention in this matter, should <br />questions arise, please feel free to contact me.