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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 />February 25, 2011 <br />COLORADO <br />D IV IS I ON OF <br />RECLAMATION <br />MINING <br />SAFETY <br />Mr. Kurt Blunt John W. Hickenlooper <br /> <br />Environmental Supervisor Governor <br />Colowyo Coal Com <br />an Mike King <br />p <br />y <br />5731 Highway 13 Executive Director <br />Meeker <br />CO 81641 Loretta E. Pineda <br />, Director <br />RE: Colowyo Coal Mine, C 1981-019, Technical Revision No. 84, Adequacy Letter No. 2 <br />Dear Mr. Blunt: <br />The Division has reviewed Colowyo Coal Company's (CCC) application for a technical revision (TR84). <br />This second adequacy letter addresses CCC's adequacy response received on November 8, 2010. Please <br />find the Division's comments: <br />Aspen and Tall Shrub Establishment Areas <br />1. Page 4.15-12, third paragraph - The field study areas for Aspen (20 acres) and tall shrub (20 <br />acres) have been reduced proportionately (18.5 and 12.0 acres respectively) to the corresponding <br />reduction in plant community disturbance. It is the Division's understanding that 20 acres each <br />was felt to be an adequate size for successful field trials rather than a proportion of disturbed <br />habitat (see CDOW letter dated March 7, 2008). Does the CDOW still require 20 acre plots for <br />field trials? <br />2. Page 4.15-12, bullet 1 and page 4.15-12, bullet 2 - It is stated "Colowyo agrees to establish one <br />small (one acre) aspen establishment area..." This statement should read "Colowyo agrees to <br />establish 1-20 acres (or many field trial areas with a cumulative area not less than 20 acres) <br />aspen establishment area..." Please fix text accordingly. This statement may be contingent on <br />the decision by the CDOW of bullet #1 above. <br />Page 4.15-13, bullet lc - It is stated "Approximately 48 inches of topsoil will be placed to <br />replicate common topsoil depth conditions..." Please change the topsoil replacement depth to <br />"at least 48 inches" which better replicates the conditions in the undisturbed areas, and to <br />incorporate the concept of significant variation in soil thickness that would be applied within the <br />South Taylor area. Also make the appropriate changes to Page 4.15-14, bullet 2c. <br />Office of Office of <br />Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand )unction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines