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<br />;- -I RIE T SMITH <br />December 6, 2009 <br />Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />1313 Sherman Street <br />Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Re: Western Fuels application for a revision to permit # C-81-008 <br />To Whom It May Concern, <br />0 0avO\ <br />d sa?e?7 <br />WWr9 ar <br />I request the land Western Fuels mines coal from be returned back to irrigated crop land and irrigated <br />pasture . It is my understanding they have requested a revision to return portions of it to "dry land". As a <br />leaser of the Lloyd property for many years I can testify that it was not "Wild Flood Irrigated." We <br />cleaned ditches every year. The ditches were designed with cutouts where water was taken out of the <br />main ditch and then caught again after it ran across the field and reset on another section of field. This <br />method allows for greater coverage of a larger area of crop land or pasture. We also plowed, planted and <br />irrigated wheat with furrows on one area. I would irrigate all summer letting the forage grow and build <br />up. Instead of cutting hay we would graze 100 head of cattle on it during the winter or spring. I irrigated <br />at least 50 acres. <br />There is a shortage of crop production and pasture for rent in this community and to take what was once <br />productive crop land and pasture and turn it into nonproductive dry land is out right robbery. <br />This is a difficult economy and our community is on the endangered list. The coal will be gone one day <br />but the land will be here. Why not leave it so that someone may have an opportunity to earn a living from <br />it? Our community will benefit more by making the reclaimed land more productive, no matter what <br />crop is produced. By turning it back to dry land it benefits no person, or animal. All of the local residents <br />including the mine employees will confirm the deer and elk prefer irrigated lands. <br />Western Fuels may not have an interest in fanning but this community has members now and generations <br />to come that have an interest in farming or ranching. <br />Sincerely,