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<br />Sandra L. Brown <br />Senior Environmental Protection Specialist <br />Division of Reclamation , Mining and Safety <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver. CO 80203 <br />Subject: Western Fuels-Colorado, LLC - Permit Revision 6 <br />ClV ED <br />SEP 01 2017 <br />DWision of Reciwnabon, <br />UMft and Safety <br />I'm Charles M Zunich, and I am writing this letter in regards to PR06. I have been an employee <br />for Western Fuels New Horizon Mine since its inception in May of 1993. Having lived in this area for 66 <br />years, I can conclude that New Horizon Mine has without a doubt a mainstay of the community. <br />Western Fuels, on average pumps $1.5 million a year into our small economy with just wages alone. <br />Between Western Fuels and Tri-State Generation, there are over 100 families dependent on these two <br />companies for their exceptional pay and benefits they provide. Without the coal mine, Tri-State <br />Generation would have to seek alternative fuels, or shut down all together. Seeking other means to fire <br />their plant, considering our remoteness would in my opinion not be cost effective. If by chance, we <br />were to lose these 2 entities, it would totally devastate this area. <br />In regards to reclamation, the 17 years I have been with Western fuels, I have seen nothing less <br />than a commendable job of reclamation. All places that have been mined have been returned to a <br />state, just as good as or better than it was before mining commenced. Western Fuels to my recollection <br />has been awarded several times, from the state, for their outstanding work on reclaiming properties <br />back to prime farm ground. I think all biases, and discrepancies should be resolved in a timely manner, <br />so that there are no interruptions in coal production or power generation, that this community so much <br />needs to continue to thrive economically. The state mandates all reclamation procedures, and will <br />continue to monitor and uphold the standards that we as a community have become accustomed to, <br />the 17 years Western fuels has been mining. They have been good stewards of our environment and <br />continue to pride themselves and their superior job of reclaiming the prime farm ground. I urge your <br />expedient approval of PR06 in hopes of curtailing in economic downtime to our community, so that we <br />can continue mining and reclamation, Morgan prime farmland and other properties are protected. <br />Sincerely, <br />Charles M Zunich