|
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 28, 2011
<br />Rio Blanco County Commissioners
<br />County Commissioner
<br />P.O. Box I
<br />Meeker, CO 81641
<br />Re: Deserado Mine (Permit No. C-1981-018)
<br />Technical Revision Application No. 68 (TR-68)
<br />B Seam Dewatering System
<br />Dear Sir or Madam:
<br />COLORADO
<br />D I V I S I O N OF
<br />RECLAMATION
<br />MINING
<br />SAFETY
<br />John W. Hickenlooper
<br />Governor
<br />Mike King
<br />Executive Director
<br />Loretta E. Pineda
<br />Director
<br />The Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety hereby issues notice, in accordance with Title 34, Article 33, Section 116,
<br />Paragraph 4, of the Colorado Revised Statutes, that on February 25, 2011, an application to revise coal mining operations at the
<br />Deserado Mine was considered complete for the purposes of filing. The revision was submitted by Blue Mountain Energy, Inc.
<br />All review and comment periods as provided in the Act and the Regulations initiate from this date of filing.
<br />Blue Mountain Energy, Inc. has submitted an application for Technical Revision. 68 for the Deserado Mine. The Technical
<br />Revision is for the installation of a dewatering system for the B-Seam workings. The proposal includes pumping water to the
<br />surface through an existing service hole, allowing the water to pass through a series of treatment ponds and discharging the
<br />water into a natural drainage. The proposed dewatering system is along the mine's access road to the train loadout. This
<br />revision includes an additional 3.47 acres of disturbed and affected land. There will be an increase in the Deserado Mine's
<br />reclamation liability as a result of this revision.
<br />The underground coal mining operation is on land located approximately 7 miles Northeast of Rangely, Colorado. The permit
<br />area is further described as follows:
<br />Portions of Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, and 12, T2N, R101W, 6th PM, all in Rio Blanco County; Portions of Sections 21, 23,
<br />25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 34, 35, and 36, T3N, R101W, 6th PM; All of Sections 22, 29, 32, and 33, T3N, R101W, 6th PM, all in
<br />Rio Blanco County.
<br />The above-mentioned tracts of land are shown on USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangle map of Rangely NE and Cactus Reservoir.
<br />The applicant is required to publish notice in a local newspaper that this application has been deemed complete. At the time of
<br />publication of this notice, the applicant is additionally required to place a copy of this application at the Rio Blanco County
<br />Clerk and Recorder, 500 Main Street, Meeker, CO 81641, and at the Division office. For additional information or to provide
<br />written comments, contact the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, Room 215, 1313 Sherman Street, Denver,
<br />Colorado 80203, (303) 866-3567. In order for us to comply with regulatory time frames, we request that comments be
<br />submitted within fifteen (15) days of this letter. If no comments are received by then, we will proceed on the assumption that
<br />you have no concerns with, or objections to, the applicant's proposal.
<br />Sincerely,
<br />James R. Stark
<br />Environmental Protection Specialist
<br />C-TR-03 C1981018 JRS 02282011084013.doc
<br />Office of Office of
<br />Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines
|