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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 <br />Phone: (303) 866-3567 <br />FAX: (303) 832-8106 <br />December 15, 2010 <br />COLORADO <br />D IV IS I ON OF <br />RECLAMATION <br />MINING <br />SAFETY <br />Mr. Stuart Sanderson <br />Bill Ritter, Jr. <br />Governor <br />President Mike King <br />Colorado Mining Association Executive Director <br />21616 Ih Street, Suite 1250 Loretta E. Pineda <br />Denver, CO 80202 Director <br />Re: 2010 Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety <br />Coal Program/Colorado Mining Association (CMA) - Coal Reclamation Awards <br />Dear Stuart: <br />I am pleased to forward the following nominations from the DRMS Coal Program, for the 2010 <br />DRMS and CMA Coal Mining and Reclamation Awards: <br />Excellence in Slide Remediation <br />Trapper Mining Inc. <br />P.O. Box 187 <br />Craig, CO 81626 <br />Contact: Forrest Luke <br />(970) 824-4401 x 140 <br />Mining at the Trapper Mine has typically been accomplished with draglines on the steep slopes <br />south of Craig, Colorado. In 2006 a large landslide occurred that jeopardized the majority of the <br />reserve base and the future stability of the reclaimed area. As a result of the slide, Trapper <br />Mining carefully evaluated the slide area and developed a mitigation plan to allow safe mining <br />and to enhance the long term stability. Geotechnical modeling was used to develop a new mine <br />plan and a new mining technique. This mining technique required that Trapper invest a <br />significant amount of money in new equipment for mining future reserves that were deemed <br />unrecoverable by the traditional dragline operation. <br />After obtaining the necessary permit approvals, Trapper commenced operations using the new <br />mining and reclamation technique in October 2009. The world's largest front wheel loader, a <br />LeToumeau L-2350, and a team of Komatsu 830E 220-ton end dump trucks went to work in the <br />slide area. Operations have continued for thirteen months without incident. The slide area has <br />remained stable and final reclamation of the slide area will be achieved in 2013. Without the <br />significant efforts and commitment of the ownership, management, and staff at Trapper Mining, <br />Office of <br />Mined Land Reclamation <br />Denver • Grand Junction • Durango <br />Office of <br />Active and Inactive Mines