2010-10-26_APPLICATION CORRESPONDENCE - C2010089

• Permit No: C2010089
• IBM Index Class Name: Application Correspondence
• Doc Date: 10/26/2010
• Doc Name: Completeness Letters
• From: DRMS
• To: State & Federal Agencies
• Email Name: MLT
• 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
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
COLORADO
D I V I S I ON OF
RECLAMATION
MINING
- St-
SAFETY
Bill Ritter, Jr.
October 26, 2010 Governor
Mike King
Assistant State Supervisor Executive Director
Fish and Wildlife Enhancement
U
S
Fish and Wildlife Service Loretta E. Pineda
.
. Director
764 Horizon Drive, South Annex A
Grand Junction, CO 81506-3904
Re: New Horizon North Mine (Permit No. C-2010-089)
New Permit Application
Dear Sir or Madam:
The Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety hereby issues notice, in accordance with Title 34, Article 33,
Section 118, Paragraph 3 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, that on October 25, 2010, an application for a permit to
conduct coal mining operations at the New Horizon North Mine was considered complete for the purposes of
filing. All review and comment periods as provided in the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act and
the Rules and Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining initiate from this date
of filing.
The applicant, Western Fuels-Colorado, LLC, proposes to conduct surface coal training operations on land located
approximately 2.5 miles northwest of Nucla. The permit area is further described as follows:
Section 25 and 36, 'Township 47 North, Range 16 West, New Mexico Prime Meridian
The applicant proposes to develop a new surface coal mine covering approximately 322 acres in the western half
of Section 25. Surface and mineral ownership is private. Current land uses are generally agricultural in nature,
and include irrigated and dryland pasture and grazing land. The proposed post-mining land uses are irrigated and
dryland pasture. The permit area also includes an equipment haul corridor which connects to the currently active
New Horizon 2 Mine (see attached photo).
The above-mentioned tracts of land are shown on USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangle map of Nucla.
The Division is coordinating with the Office of Surface Mining on evaluation of the potential for impacts to
threatened or endangered species of plants or animals, or wildlife species otherwise protected by federal law. In
order for us to approve this permit, we are required to make a finding that "the activities would not affect the
continued existence of endangered or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of
their critical habitats as determined under the Endangered Species Act of 1973". The OSM will prepare the
biological assessment necessary for approval based on the information provided in the application, and OSM will
coordinate with your office if necessary. This coordination is required to ensure mitigation of potential impacts to
federally protected wildlife species.
Office of Office of
Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines