Laserfiche WebLink
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 />April 12, 2011 <br />Tonya K. Hammond <br />Snowcap Coal Company, Inc. <br />P.O. Box 1430 <br />Palisade, CO 81526 <br />Dear Ms. Hammond: <br />Re: Roadside Mine Permit No.C- 19$1 -041 <br />Technical Revision No. 60 (TR -60), Adequacy Review Responses <br />COLORADO <br />D I V I S ION 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 has reviewed Snowcap Coal Company's <br />(SCC's) responses to our adequacy review letter dated March 4, 2011. The responses to the <br />adequacy review were well organized and informative. All of the items were adequately <br />addressed and SCC's response to the Division of Wildlife's comments was thorough. We have <br />two additional comments and they are listed below as Items 5 and 6. <br />1. Item resolved. <br />2. a -Item resolved. <br />b -Item resolved. <br />c -Item resolved. <br />3. Item resolved. An explanation about follow -up consultations were included in the March <br />23, 2011 adequacy review response letter and found to be adequate. <br />4. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) submitted their comments about TR -60 to <br />the Division in a letter dated February 10, 2011. CDOW raised concerns about the <br />quality of wildlife habitat on the Snowcap Coal property being affected because of "a <br />blanket change to the revegetation reclamation standards." CDOW believes that these <br />proposed changes are "not appropriate." <br />In an effort to eradicate cheatgrass from the reclaimed areas, SCC has consulted with <br />numerous professionals and has followed the appropriate procedures for cheatgrass <br />eradication. SCC has documented their efforts in their Adequacy Review Response letter <br />dated March 23, 2011 (attached). The Division feels that the change in revegetation <br />standards is warranted. We drafted a letter of response to DOW that is provided as an <br />attachment to this letter. <br />Office of Office of <br />Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines <br />