Laserfiche WebLink
STATE OF COLORADO <br />John W. Hickenlooper, Govemor <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES <br />DIVISION OF WILDLIFE <br />AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />Thomas E. Remington, Director <br />Southeast Region: <br />4255 Sinton Road <br />Colorado Springs, CO 80907 <br />Telephone: (719)227-5200 <br />FAX: (719)227-5297 <br />www. wildlife. state. co. us <br />March 24, 2011 <br />Mr. Kent Gorham <br />Environmental Protection Specialist <br />Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />1313 Sherman St., Room215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />JrO'?' OF `?, q <br />For Wildlife- <br />For People <br />b??R 2 ? 2.©t1 <br />Re: CDOW Review and Comments Pertaining to New Elk Mine (Permit No. C-1981-012), Technical <br />Revision Application No. 56 (TR-56), and Incidental Permit Boundary Change and 2011 Mine Plan <br />Dear Mr. Gorham: <br />The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) has reviewed your letter, dated February 28, 2011, regarding the <br />proposal to increase the permit boundary of 22.5 acres within CDOW owned surface and coal at the Cline Mining <br />- New Elk Mine (NECC) under the Bosque del Oso State Wildlife Area (SWA). <br />CDOW's comments relate to the proposed permit boundary changes and our concerns for the mitigation measures <br />which were recommended for surface subsidence. <br />While CDOW does not, in general, have concerns with the proposal to increase the permit boundary by 22.5 acres <br />within the lease, we wish to reiterate our concern for the proposed mitigation measures outlined in the Subsidence <br />Control, Monitoring, and Mitigation Plan developed by Agapito Associates, Inc. (AAI Plan). CDOW outlined <br />these specific concerns in our letter for PR-02. <br />Specifically, CDOW is concerned about the additional surface disturbance that uncovering methane gas lines to <br />alleviate subsidence would create, including: <br />• the length of time during which the gas pipelines would remain decoupled from the ground, <br />• the amount of time the pipelines would remain uncovered, <br />• the recommended measures to mitigate the impacts that the open trenches pose to wildlife, <br />• the effects on public use of the surface, <br />• the effects on the state's ability to perform routine management operations, <br />• whether the additional surface disturbances places XTO Energy in direct violation of the states Surface <br />Use Agreement, <br />• the recommended interim reclamation, and <br />• Timeline for final reclamation. <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Mike IGng, Executive Director <br />WILDLIFE COMMISSION, Tim Glenn, Chair • Robert Streeter, Vice Chair • Marts Smith, Secretary <br />Members, David R. Brougham • Dennis Buechler • Dorothea Farris • Allan Jones • John Singletary • Dean Wingfield <br />Ex Officio Members, Mike Kng and John Salazar