2011-01-28_REVISION - C1981041 (2)

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STATE OF COLORADO DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY Department of Natural Resources 1313 Sherman St., Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203 Phone: (303) 866-3567 FAX: (303) 832-8106 January 28, 2011 Ron Velarde NW Regional Wildlife Manager Colorado Division of Wildlife NW Regional Service Center 711 Independent Ave. Grand Junction, CO 81505 Re: Roadside Portals (Permit No. C-1981-041) Technical Revision Application No. 60 (TR-60) Change to Revegetation Success Criteria Dear Mr. Velarde: COLORADO D IV IS I ON OF RECLAMATION MINING SAFETY John W. Hickenlooper Governor Mike King Executive Director Loretta E. Pineda Director The Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety hereby issues notice, in accordance with Title 34, Article 33, Section 116, Paragraph 4, of the Colorado Revised Statutes, that on January 28, 2011, an application to revise coal mining operations at the Roadside Portals was considered complete for the purposes of filing. The revision was submitted by Snowcap Coal Company, Inc. All review and comment periods as provided in the Act and the Regulations initiate from this date of filing. With this technical revision Snowcap Coal Company, Inc (SCC) proposes to change the revegetation success criteria for vegetation cover, herbaceous production and species diversity. Seneca Coal Company feels these changes are warranted based on vegetation sampling and re-evaluation in 2010. The underground coal mining operation is on land located approximately 5 miles North of Palisade, Colorado. The permit area is further described as follows: Portions of Sections 26, 27, 28, 34, and 35, T10S, R98W, 6th PM; Portions of Sections 1, 2, 11, 12, and 13, T11S, R98W, 6th PM; Portions of Section 7, T11 S, R97W, 6th PM; all in Mesa County. The above-mentioned tracts of land are shown on USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangle map of Cameo and Palisade. Because the above referenced technical revision application would incorporate additional lands into the permit area or might otherwise alter previously approved permit conditions or mitigation measures, we are requesting your agency's evaluation of the proposal. Your comments and concerns relating to the adequacy of fish and wildlife resources information, the fish and wildlife plan, and the reclamation plan as it relates to fish and wildlife considerations, including potential impacts to threatened or endangered species, are requested. If wildlife habitat is the proposed postmining land use, we request your evaluation of proposed woody plant stocking levels, planting arrangements, and methods for mitigation of potential adverse impacts. Office of Office of Active and Inactive Mines Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango