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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 COLORADO <br /> <br />Phone: (303) 866-3567 D[ v[ s[ 0 3v o f <br />RECLAMATION <br />FAX: (:303) 832-8106 MINING <br /> <br /> SAFETY <br /> Bill Ritter, Jr. <br /> <br />May 14, 2010 Governor <br /> James 13. Martin <br />Carl Johnston Executive Director <br />Office of Surface Mining Pineda <br /> <br />Western Regional Coordinating Center Director r <br />r <br />1999 Broadway, Suite 3320 <br />Denver, CO 80202 <br />Re: West Elk Mine (Permit No. C-1980-007) <br />Technical Revision Application No. 121 (TR-121) <br />Methane Drainage Wells E3-71, 75, 76, 78 and E4-76, 81, 82, 83 <br />Dear Mr. Johnston: <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 May 14, 2010, an application to revise coal mining operations at the <br />West Elk Mine was considered complete for the purposes of filing. The revision was submitted by Mountain Coal Company, <br />LLC. All review and comment periods as provided in the Act and the Regulations initiate from this date of filing. <br />The operator proposes to drill eight methane drainage wells on U.S. Forest Service land, and develop associated roads and drill <br />pads. Because the above-referenced technical revision application proposes new disturbance on 4.4 acres of land, the Division <br />of Reclamation, Mining and Safety requests OSM to evaluate the potential for impacts to threatened or endangered species of <br />plants or animals, or wildlife species otherwise protected by federal law. This coordination is required to ensure mitigation of <br />potential impacts to federally protected wildlife species. A copy of that portion of the permit application that addresses <br />potential effects of the operation to threatened and endangered (T&E) species is enclosed. <br />The underground coal mining operation is on land located approximately 9 miles east of Paonia, Colorado. The permit area is <br />further described as follows: <br />All or portions of. Sections 9 through 36 (inclusive), Township 13 South, Range 90 West; Sections 23 through 26 (inclusive), <br />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 <br />6th Principal Meridian. <br />The above-mentioned tracts of land are shown on USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangle map of Somerset. <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 Gunnison County Clerk <br />and Recorder, 221 N. Wisconsin, Gunnison, CO 81230, 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 />Office of Office of <br />Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines