2010-11-23_REVISION - C1981019

• Permit No: C1981019
• IBM Index Class Name: REVISION
• Doc Date: 11/23/2010
• Doc Name: Review Letter
• From: DRMS
• To: Colowyo Coal Company
• Type & Sequence: SL4
• 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
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
COLORADO
D I V I S I O N OF
RECLAMATION
MINING
SAFETY
Bill Ritter, Jr.
23 November 2010 Governor
Mike King
Ms. Jennifer Sekulski-Barton Executive Director
Colowyo Coal Company, LP Loretta E. Pineda
5731 State Highway 13 Director
Meeker, CO 81641
Re: Colowyo Mine C-1981-019
Partial Phase I/II Bond Release SL-04
Dear Ms. Sekulski-Barton:
The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division) has completed its
review of the Phase II vegetation sampling and RUSLE soil loss data portions of the
Colowyo Coal Company, LP's (Colowyo) Partial Phase II Bond Release application SL-
04. The Division has the following comments and adequacy questions regarding these
portions of the SL-04 application.
Phase II Reveeetation Monitoring
General Comments and Observations, Vegetation Sampling
Rule 3.03.1 (2)(b) states that "Up to eighty-five percent of the applicable bond amount
shall be released upon the establishment of vegetation which supports the approved post-
mining land use and which meets the approved success standard for cover..."
The 28 reclamation blocks, totaling 432.7 acres, included in the Partial Phase II Bond
Release SL-04 are EP028, EP029, EP030, EP031, EP031 EP032, EP033, EP034, EP036,
EP037, EP038, EP039, EP040, EP041, EP042, EP043, EP044, WP003, WP004, WP005,
WP006, WPOO7, WP008, WP009, WPO10, WPOl 1, 516010, and 516014. Seventeen of
the reclamation blocks are located at the East Pit and account for 365.89 acres. Nine of
the reclamation blocks are located at the West Pit (the West Pit Fill) and account for
49.44 acres. Two of the reclamation blocks are located in the Section 16 Pit and account
for 17.37 acres. The locations of the reclamation blocks are shown in Exhibit 2 - Phase
II Bond Release Map in the SL-04 application. These reclamation blocks were seeded
between 1996 and 2003. The seed mix used on the reclamation blocks is included in the
SL-04 application in Tables 2.05-7 and 2.05-8. The post-mining land use for the Phase II
Bond Release area is rangeland, as defined by Rule 1.04(71)(c).
Office of office of
Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines