|
2-San Miguel Basin Forum. Thursday, December 17, 2009
<br />In Response: Western Fuels Offer
<br />This is a response to the letter the s Clarification to Permit Revision Issue-
<br />unity commsince we began ink mined lands to a realistic, determine if those h?nds csi1t_ by JoEllen Turner published in the mining in 1993. We have received sustainable and stable land
<br /> use. ed . as irrigated land actually owner has moved certain ditch
<br />Forum on December 10, 2009. a number of reclamation awards Some of the mined lands have enough ??:,ter e„ all '.
<br />R'estern gels-Colorado, LI_C have water tight, to another property,
<br />from the State of Colorado and txen or will be returned to irri- and c'conotnic fartnin , im?atton and this water is no longer avail-
<br />has been a respectful member of have been dedicated to rector- gated t practices. able, lheSlam will not allow us to
<br />we g pasture. irrigated cropland r We have spent considerable
<br />and dryland pasture. Available time reviewing this and it is def7- designate irrigated land on the first
<br />irrigation water that was leased nite that the water provided to property. Lloyd's and Berison's
<br />with each parcel has been utilized Western Fuels in the lease with the are also getting restored irrigated
<br />to its fullest, but still satisfies the -Morgans simply does not allow land based be the available water.
<br />'G r as the regulatory
<br />landowners' agencies' desirulesres,. as well fu#1 irrigation of crop-type vegeta- will not allow Westem Fugl$ to
<br />'. aeff'*f ail leased Morgan land.-
<br />S
<br />" As you May be aware. all coal This is trot to say that the'land ern- Par'selY irrigate larger tracts of Tkc mining is heavily regulated by The not be fur irrigated i lat?($) with whatever
<br /> the allotted
<br />lY in the future, water shares per parcel are.
<br />Colorado Division of Reclamation, but the water must be provided in
<br />rMining and Safety (DRMS), Mine the )ease to do it. And simply put. `?°?er misrepresentation is
<br />1 the statement that quotes from die
<br />W1, Safety and Health Admi ristration it is not. -
<br />pemtit revision: "R'F'C is not in
<br />wr! r' (MSHA), Environmental We can only irrigate with what the farming batsinPS.c and has no
<br />Protection Agency (EPA), U,S. water is available to us.
<br />tic It is disa -
<br />1 i C jt c r1 P interest in turning the land hack
<br />DAG GUM NEIGHBOR J ? Army Corps of Engineers and pointing that these facts are being to irrigated postanine use," This
<br />Sometime after Adam and Eve we are all getting tired of seeing Colorado Department of Public misrepresented.
<br />Health and Environment to name It should be noted that, in addi- refers to Western Fuels' desire
<br />a took up residence in the Garden of each other every day. If you've . the Wishes and tion. Western Fuels did receive a as landowner of one of our fee
<br />Eden, they got neighbors. I'm not ever been owned by a bunch ,i1 fr?c
<br />desirc, of the landowner and/or hand written, unsigned "Pro owned parcels, not. anyone else's
<br />sure if the Bible records the event, cows. you'll know what) mean. )t we"tern Fuels-Colorado are not For The Moran Pro peal land.
<br />but it had to have happened. As doesn't matter what or how much granted by these agencies that the g y Stating It should also be noted that
<br />soon as Ralph and Mabel moved you feed them, they are unhappy. ?' Y (presumably from Mr. Frank WFC has worked %kith another
<br />oversee the mining and reclama- Morgan} would give some addi-
<br />in, the trouble probably began. An unhappy cow only knows one Lion operations. landowner w the irrwishesigation were t water r
<br />Don't get me wrong. I'm not way to react. They leave. It is trvc'that at tome shares assistance of with CCC water plus transfer all the
<br />P ,r
<br />against neighbors. Not all of them, the mtimes some the cost of from a leased parcel to another
<br />Our ranch is surrounded by in the past. much of the Morg tion/planting, but no
<br />anyway. a few open ha fields, lush road property in the mine permit a financial or other e of assis- tract of land landowner) owns. chanInged effect, the
<br />ect,
<br />Simply Put, neighbors can be sides and an occasional well was =' gi?ied to s e de ree. It is tanc tYP he (the landow
<br />divided into two categories, good cared for neighbor's lawn. Fact also true that the Morgan ]and in4
<br />equipment) with the actual r, materials, supplies. land use from irrigated pasture to
<br />i
<br />and bad. Most of us have at least of the matter is, when the cows question is considered prime farm- ing<irrig Lion p non throu f ?_ dr}'land pasture.
<br />one of each. Good ones are a joy get out, they are happier than land soils and could be considered the Reclamation Bonding Uhf clarify a Thank you number for of these allowing us issuesto
<br />to have around. They fix their half when at home. Add to this, these irrigated prime farmland vtYgeta-- frame which could be as short as
<br />.
<br />of the fence plus keeptheir horses, "jail breaks" usually occur when tion/crops if "adequate" water is 10 years or as man If anyone has any questions
<br />dogs and kids at home. Beyond we are gone. It's a pretty le to irrigateit takes to
<br />?v y Years as it for us or would like to discuss this
<br />that, not much else is necessary for system for most of us The cows x achieve the specific veg- further, please call Ross Gubka
<br />Prime farmland does have a elation success standards.
<br />me to label them a good neighbor. are happy. We are gone with no definition given to it by a fed- As far as other ro rties are at the mine at 865-7910 or Lance
<br />If they also wave as they drive by, idea what's happening at home so eral agency. The State agency has ? concerned, all P Wade at filly,
<br />5.
<br />i' that's a bonus, but not properties are being Respectfully,
<br />required. we, too, are happy. That's when asked us to review the lands in the restored to irrigation based on the
<br />To make the not co good cat- the pesky "too good., neighbors current and future mine area to water that i R• Lance Wade, Mine Manager
<br />? egory. Just flip the list over. Kids, enter the picture. One across the is available. If a land- New Horizon Mine
<br />dogs and horses roareing, climb- road will see something odd. For
<br />Local All Conference Football & Volleyball
<br />ing over and generally annoying instance, thirty cows on his lawn. .r
<br />Honors Announced
|