2010-08-06_REPORT - C1981044

• Permit No: C1981044
• IBM Index Class Name: REPORT
• Doc Date: 8/6/2010
• Doc Name: 2009 ARR Review Letter
• From: DRMS
• To: BTu Empire Corporation
• Permit Index Doc Type: Annual Reclamation Report
• Email Name: JRS
• Email Name: SB1
• 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 C O L O RA D O
Phone: [phone] n t v t s t o N o f
RECLAMATION
FAX: [phone] MINING

SAFETY
6 August 2010
Bill Ritter, .
G
overnor Jr
Mike King
Mr. Jerry Nettleton Executive Director
BTU Empire Corporation
Loretta E. Pineda
29515 RCR 27 Director
Oak Creek, CO 80467
Re: Williams Fork Mines C-1981-044
2009 Annual Reclamation Report
Dear Mr. Nettleton.:
The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (the Division) has received the BTU
Empire Company, LLC's (BTUEC) submittal of the 2009 Annual Reclamation Report for the
Williams Fork Mines (formerly the Eagle Mine Complex). The report was dated 5 February 2010
and received by the Division on 10 February 2010. Thank you for your timely submittal of this
report. The Williams Fork Mines are currently in Temporary Cessation. There was, however
reclamation, maintenance and monitoring work that was performed during the 2009 reporting year.
Based on the Division's review of the Williams Fork Mines' 2009 Annual Reclamation Report, The
Division has the following comments and questions. The Division requests BTUEC's responses to
the questions below no later than 17 September 2010.
BTUEC reports that final reclamation, including grading, drainage reestablishment, topsoil
replacement and seeding, was completed on the No. 9 Portal area and adjacent refuse pile. The work
was performed in May 2009 and the area encompassed approximately 17.1 acres.
In addition to the reclamation work at the No. 9 Portal area and adjacent refuse pile, BTUEC
performed site maintenance as needed. This included sediment structure cleaning and the spraying of
approximately 151.6 acres for weeds. BTUEC has reported that their concentrated tamarisk
treatment program, completed in 2006, has been effective. During the 2009 reporting year limited
tamarisk control efforts focused along portions of the rail spur. Finally, the mine's program to
eliminate the ground squirrel infestation, that had been a problem on the east side of the mine, has
been successful in significantly reducing their population. No additional rodent control measures
were required during the 2009 reporting year.
The Division continues to inspect the site on a quarterly basis and has written reports regarding the
reclamation and maintenance activities at the Williams Fork Mines. The statements made in the 2009
Annual Reclamation Report correlate with what the Division has observed on the ground. More
detailed information can be found in the Division's quarterly inspection reports.
Office of Office of
Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines