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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 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone: (303) 866-3567 <br />FAX: (303) 832-8106 <br />10 May 2010 <br />Mr. Kurtis Blunt <br />Colowyo Coal Company, LP <br />5731 State Highway 13 <br />Meeker, CO 81641 <br />Re: Colowyo Mine C-1981-019 <br />Preliminary Adequacy Review - Technical Revision 82 <br />Dear Mr. Blunt: <br />COLORADO <br />D I V I S I ON OF <br />RECLAMATION <br />MINING <br />SAFETY <br />Bill Ritter, Jr. <br />Governor <br />James B. Martin <br />Executive Director <br />Loretta E. Pineda <br />Director <br />The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division) has received the <br />Colowyo Coal Company, LP's (Colowyo) responses to the Division's 23 November 2009 <br />Preliminary Adequacy Review Letter. The Division has reviewed the responses and has the <br />following comments and adequacy questions. <br />Rule 2.05.4 - Reclamation Plan <br />Colowyo has provided footnotes to the topsoil replacement depth generic cross-section <br />on amended page 2.05-46. The footnotes describe three replacement zones for the <br />post-2007 reclamation in the original permit area (West Pit), and four replacement <br />zones for the South Taylor expansion area. The presentation is still somewhat <br />confusing because only one cross-section is depicted, showing three replacement <br />zones (which reflects the West Pit plan, but not the South Taylor plan). Also, the <br />replacement thickness for South Taylor lower slope areas as described in the footnotes <br />is vague ("up to potentially 3-4 feet"). Additional clarification is warranted. <br />a. Please provide separate cross-sections for West Pit and South Taylor <br />soil replacement depths. South Taylor cross-section should depict <br />two separate replacement zones (upper and lower) for slopes greater <br />than 10%. <br />b. Please specify both a range and average thickness for the thick soil <br />(lower % slope) replacement zone in the South Taylor Area. Average <br />thickness for these thick soil zones should be at least 30". Text <br />and/or diagram footnotes for South Taylor will need to specify that, <br />within designated aspen and thick soil tall shrub establishment areas, <br />average replacement thickness will be at least,48", regardless of slope <br />Office of Office of <br />Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines