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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 />February 1, 2008
<br />Ron Velarde
<br />NW Regional Wildlife Manager
<br />Colorado Division of Wildlife
<br />NW Regional Service Center
<br />711 Independent Ave.
<br />Grand Junction, CO 81505
<br />Re: Colowyo Coal Mine (Permit No. C-1981-019)
<br />Technical Revision Application No. 69 (TR-69)
<br />South Taylor Mine Plan Update
<br />Dear Mr. Velarde:
<br />COLORADO
<br />D IV IS 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,
<br />Section 116, Paragraph 4, of the Colorado Revised Statutes, that on February 1, 2008, an application to revise coal
<br />mining operations at the Colowyo Coal Mine was considered complete for the purposes of filing. The revision
<br />was submitted by Colowyo Coal Company L.P.. All review and comment periods as provided in the Act and the
<br />Regulations initiate from this date of filing.
<br />The Colowyo Coal Company has submitted a Technical Revision for the Colowyo Mine to change the mine plan
<br />and topsoil stripping plan for the South Taylor Pit. The changes are to the topsoil stripping sequence, mining
<br />sequence and yearly mining blocks only. The disturbed and affected areas of the South Taylor Pit will remain the
<br />same. Based on this revision, no new lands will be disturbed or affected. Since all disturbance boundaries and pit
<br />depths will remain the same, it is not anticipated that this revision will change the reclamation cost estimate and
<br />bond. The South Taylor Pit was approved for mining through Permit Revision 02. All of the areas have been
<br />surveyed for cultural resources and threatened and endangered species.
<br />The surface coal mining operation is on land located approximately 28 miles South of Craig, Colorado. The
<br />permit area is 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,
<br />24, 26, 27, 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 />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, we are requesting
<br />your agency's evaluation of the proposal. Your comments and concerns relating to the adequacy of fish and
<br />wildlife resources information, the fish and wildlife plan, and the reclamation plan as it relates to fish and wildlife
<br />considerations, including potential impacts to threatened or endangered species, are requested. If wildlife habitat
<br />Office of Office of
<br />Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines
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