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DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES <br />March 18, 2011 <br />James R. Stark, Environmental Protection Specialist <br />Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Re: Deserado Mine (Permit No. C-1981-018) <br />Permit Revision Application No. 7 <br />Dear Mr. Stark: <br />John W. Hickenlooper <br />Governor <br />Mike King <br />Executive Director <br />Dick Wolfe, P.E. <br />Director/State Engineer <br />ReCEjt,z,0 <br />MAR 18 2011 <br />DivISIo <br />AR <br />n'nD aria Q ft lion <br />The Division of Water Resources has reviewed the Deserado Mine (Permit No. C-1981- <br />018) Permit Revision Application. The Permit Revision requests the addition of an additional <br />200 acres to the permit area. This increase in permit area will allow for the completion of new <br />longwall panels. The coal mining operation is located approximately 7 miles Northeast of <br />Rangely in Rio Blanco County. The State Engineers Office (SEO) offers the following <br />comments on this project: <br />The applicant proposes to either use the water collected from storm/surface/mine water <br />drainage or store it in a sediment pond for later release to the White River stream system. <br />Currently, the stream system in this location is not overappropriated, however, if the stream <br />system at this location becomes overappropriated, the storage and use of any surface or ground <br />water will be subject to administration. <br />From my review of this site, it appears that several well permit types are applicable to <br />this operation. Please note that any dewatering operations will require well permits. Also, all <br />wells drilled for monitoring/testing uses should be permitted through the SEO as outlined below. <br />Last, if any wells have been completed without a valid MH Notice or well permit, the applicant <br />will need to take immediate action to either plug and abandon or permit the wells through the <br />SEO. <br />The following is general information regarding well permitting. All wells that exist for the <br />purpose of exposing ground water ("water wells"), including wells used for the monitoring and <br />observation of water quality/levels, are subject to the State Engineer's Office (SEO) well <br />permitting requirements. Exploration boreholes constructed/used for purposes other than <br />accessing ground water do not require notice and/or permitting through the SEO; however these <br />wells will require permits through the SEO if/when they are used to access ground water for <br />monitoring or other purposes. Wells that are drilled as exploration boreholes under MLR and <br />Office of the State Engineer <br />1313 Sherman Street, Suite 818 • Denver, CO 80203 • Phone: 303-866-3581 • Fax: 303-866-3589 <br />http://water.state.co.us