2011-05-27_REVISION - C1981018 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

dr DESERADO MINE BLUE MOUNTAIN ENERGY 3607 County Rd. 65 Rangely, CO 81648 (970)675-4300 fax (970)675-4399 May 26, 2011 Mr. Jim Stark Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 RE: Permit Revision 7 (PR-07 Deserado Mine - Permit No. C-1981-018 Response to questions and comments Dear Jim: I'V ftFCF ?? MAY 7 n11 Division Mining p1a d Safely n, The following is our response to the questions and comments from your April 21" letter. Itemized responses corresponds to the itemized questions and comments found within the review. 1. It is correct that we have identified numerous areas of longwall panels as "possible mining development" that are not currently or presently proposed for permit approval to mine. This fact is clearly identified immediately under the "possible mining development" within the legend by the statement "(not currently permitted)". We are well aware that these areas are not currently permitted to be mined and that is why we have identified them as such. We could have not shown these areas and provided a mine layout with little sense of reality but chose to be open and forthcoming in our intentions for future development. Therefore, these areas are shown and represent areas we expect to include in future permitting actions once proper Federal Coal Leases area obtained. The Division also questions as to how we ensure that these areas outside of our federal coal leases are not mined. It is as simple as to not mine them until proper authority is received through a Federal Coal Lease and subsequent State permit revision. We are well aware of these requirements as we have been working within this regulatory framework for over thirty years. As has been common in mining for over a hundred years we frequently survey our mining progress. We maintain close tolerances of our engineered mine development to ensure proper designs are followed and structural integrity is maintained. Without accurate surveying we would not be able to efficiently maintain a longwall mining operation or intersect workings from the surface with our nitrogen injection holes. It is this same surveying that enables us to properly quantify coal extraction per lease to the BLM and meet detailed mapping requirements for MSHA. Extensive oversight is already in place by these federal agencies to ensure accurate surveying is undertaken and the BLM frequently monitors progress to verify that we mine only within approved lease areas. As to the request for a timetable for acquiring federal leases, we intend to acquire the appropriate leases well ahead of the schedule provided on the revised Map 120. However, we cannot dictate