2010-01-11_REVISION - C1980007 ‎(5)‎

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: REVISION
• Doc Date: 1/11/2010
• Doc Name: Completeness Letters
• From: DRMS
• To: State & Federal Agencies
• Type & Sequence: TR120
• Email Name: TAK
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
January 11, 2010
Ron Velarde
NW Regional Wildlife Manager
Colorado Division of Wildlife
NW Regional Service Center
711 Independent Ave.
Grand Junction, CO 81505
Re: West Elk Mine (Permit No. C-1980-007)
Technical Revision Application No. 120 (TR-120)
New Refuse Pile In No Name Gulch
Dear Mr. Velarde:
COLORADO
D I V IS I O N Of
RECLAMATION
MINING
SAFETY
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
Harris D. Sherman
Executive Director
Ronald W. Cattany
Division Director
Natural Resource Trustee
The Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety hereby issues notice, in accordance with Title 34, Article 33,
Section 116, Paragraph 4, of the Colorado Revised Statutes, that on January 11, 2010, an application to revise coal
mining operations at the West Elk Mine was considered complete for the purposes of filing. The revision was
submitted by Mountain Coal Company, LLC. All review and comment periods as provided in the Act and the
Regulations initiate from this date of filing.
The operator proposes to construct a new 75-acre coal waste rock pile for disposing approximately 16 million
cubic yards of coal waste rock. The project is proposed on land owned by the mine operator in Section 15 of
Township 13 South, Range 90 West, one-half mile southeast of the mine's currently active waste pile. The
proposal includes associated access roads and ditches. This new waste pile is needed because the currently active
20-acre waste rock pile is approaching its maximum capacity of approximately 1.4 million cubic yards. Proposed
new land surface disturbance is approximately 80 acres.
The underground coal mining operation is on land located approximately 9 miles East of Paonia, Colorado. The
permit area is further described as follows:
All or portions of. Sections 9 through 36 (inclusive), Township 13 South, Range 90 West; Sections 23 through 26
(inclusive), Township 13 South, Range 91 West; and Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, Township 14 South,
Range 90 West; all of the 6th Principal Meridian. Located in Gunnison and Delta Counties
The above-mentioned tracts of land are shown on USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangle map of Somerset.
Because the above referenced technical revision application would incorporate additional lands into the permit
area or might otherwise alter previously approved permit conditions or mitigation measures, we are requesting
your agency's evaluation of the proposal. Your comments and concerns relating to the adequacy of fish and
wildlife resources information, the fish and wildlife plan, and the reclamation plan as it relates to fish and wildlife
considerations, including potential impacts to threatened or endangered species, are requested. If wildlife habitat
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Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines