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PeabodH <br />Twentymile Coal Company <br />November 20, 2009 <br />29515 Routt County Road #27 <br />Oak Creek, CO 80467 <br />970.879.3800 <br /> <br />Mrs. Janet Binns, Environmental Protection Specialist NOV Z32Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety Division of ? <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 '11y, - gang a e on, <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />(303) 866-4944 <br />RE: Twentymile Coal Company, Foidel Creek Mine (C-82-056) - Technical Revision (TR09- <br />71 for Western Mining District Mine Plan Modification <br />Dear Mrs. Binns: <br />Twentymile Coal Company (TCC) respectfully requests CDRMS approval of a Technical Revision to <br />our existing approved Permit, to modify our approved mine plan for the Western Mining District <br />(WMD) to include development and mining of additional coal reserves in Panels 18- Left Inby, 19-Left <br />Inby, 20-Left Inby, and 19-Left. This plan modification would also include expanded development of <br />the 18-Left Gateroad and the area around the 18-Left Ventilation Shaft. The proposed plan <br />modifications are necessary to improve sequencing and timing between mine development and <br />longwall mining operations, and reflect new information gained through development and underground <br />geologic mapping in the 17- and 18-Left Gateroads. It was previously believed that faulting and <br />grades (coal bottom structure) in the modification areas would effectively preclude longwall mining in <br />these areas, however, new information indicates that recovery of the known coal reserves in these areas <br />may be economically feasible using shortened longwall panels. Activities under the proposed mine <br />plan modification will be limited to underground continuous-miner development and longwall mining, <br />and will not require construction of any new surface facilities. <br />Preliminary mine development (Phase I) in the WMD (Panels 17 through 18 Left), was addressed in <br />the PR06-07 Permit Revision submittal (approved 01/02/07), with subsequent minor modifications to <br />adjust alignment and configuration consistent with geologic controls, under TR07-63 (approved <br />11/01/07). Phase II development activities, extending to, but not including, the un-leased (at the time) <br />Federal coal reserves in Sections 21 and 22, T5N, R87W, were approved (10/03/08) under TR07-64. <br />TCC has subsequently acquired the referenced Federal Coal Lease (Lease No. COC-72980), and has <br />submitted a Permit Revision (PR09-08) application addressing final Phase III development and <br />longwall mining for the remainder of the WMD, including the new Federal Coal Lease (approved <br />10/30/09). <br />This submittal includes revised PAP text and supporting materials, as identified by the attached <br />Summary of Revisions/Additions. Please note that since this Technical Revision application only <br />addresses underground development and mining, and will involve no surface disturbance, there are no <br />associated impacts on reclamation liability, and no bonding calculations are being submitted with this <br />application package. We appreciate your consideration, cooperation, and assistance in facilitating <br />timely review and approval of this revision application. After you have opportunity to review the <br />accompanying information, please feel free to contact me with any questions or to discuss submittal <br />materials or related matters.