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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 COLORADO
<br />Denver, Colorado 80203 D IV IS t ON OFF
<br />Phone: (303) 866-3567 RECLAMATION
<br />FAX: (303) 832-8106 MINING
<br />SAFETY
<br />January 8, 2010 Bill Ritter, Jr.
<br />Governor
<br />Jennifer Maiolo Harris D. Sherman
<br />U.S. Bureau of Land Management Executive Director
<br />Little Snake Field Office Ronald W. Cattany
<br />455 Emerson St. Division Director
<br />Craig, CO 81625 Natural Resource Trustee
<br />Re: Colowyo Coal Mine (Permit No. C-1981-019)
<br />Technical Revision Application No. 84 (TR-84)
<br />Response to Stipulation 13 (TR72/RN5)
<br />Dear Ms. Maiolo:
<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 January 8, 2010, 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 resolve Stipulation 13. Stipulation
<br />13 was attached to the permit as a result of TR-72 and deals with establishing tall mountain shrubs and aspen planting areas at
<br />the Colowyo Mine, specifically the South Taylor Pit area. This revision provides a detailed plan for the procedures and
<br />possible locations for the tall mountain shrub and aspen planting areas in the South Taylor Pit. There is no proposed change to
<br />the mine's disturbance boundary or permit boundary with this revision. Due to changes in planting methods and seed mixes that
<br />will result from this revision, there may be an increase in the mine's reclamation liability as a result of this revision. The need
<br />for any increase will be determined as the process draws to its conclusion and all of the plan details are finalized.
<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 maps 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 W 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 />Office of
<br />Office of
<br />Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines
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