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1. The proposed New Horizon North (NHN) Mine is situated in an area that over the past <br />several decades has been host to a series of surface coal mining operations. This sequence <br />of mining operations is described to varying degrees in the introductory paragraphs of <br />several sections included in the PAP. Because this history comes to bear on multiple aspects <br />of the proposed NHN Mine, the Division suggests that an alternate approach may be <br />preferable. Rather than repeating the history (or portions thereof) in numerous places within <br />the permit, we request that a more detailed history be written, presented at just one location <br />within the permit, and then referenced from the individual sections as appropriate. It may be <br />logical to present this narrative at the introduction to Section 2.04.3 - Site Description and <br />Land Use Information. Please revise and expand the thorough narrative presented in Section <br />2.04.3 (specific comments regarding the narrative are provided below) describing the coal <br />mining history of the area surrounding the proposed NHN Mine, and reference this <br />description from other sections of the permit. <br />Response - The narrative has been revised to include coal mining history of the area <br />surrounding the proposed NHN Mine. <br />2. Rule 2.10.2, Permit and Adjacent Areas, requires that a map be submitted which <br />distinguishes among each of the phases during which surface coal mining operations were or <br />will be conducted at any place within the permit area and adjacent area. With the narrative <br />described above, please provide a map which, in addition to the proposed NHN permit <br />boundary, delineates those areas previously mined, including "pre-law" disturbances, Nucla <br />/ NH1 and NH2 permit areas and areas within these permits from which coal was extracted. <br />Mining areas should be delineated as required by Rule 2.10.2. <br />Response -A new Map 2.04.3-2 has been prepared to depict the requested information <br />under Rule 2.10.2. <br />3. As described in the introductory paragraphs of Section 2.04.3 of the application, surface <br />mining in the area was first begun with Edna Coal Company's Navajo Mine in 1958. This <br />mine was purchased by Peabody Coal Company (PCC) in September 1963 and renamed it <br />the Nucla Mine. <br />a) The text of the first full paragraph on page 2 of Section 2.03.4 contains run-on <br />sentences, and is difficult to follow. Please review the text and revise as necessary to <br />clearly state what is intended. <br />b) Please incorporate these additional permitting history points into the narrative: <br />i. PCC submitted an application for the Nucla Mine in April 1981, and in May 1983, <br />Permit No. C-008-81 was issued by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation <br />Division <br />ii. The geographically separate Nucla East Mine was incorporated into the permit in <br />1989 <br />iii. In 1992, the mining permit (C-1981-008) was transferred to Western Fuels- <br />Colorado (WFC), and the two permit areas were renamed the New Horizon 1 <br />(NH I) and New Horizon 2 (NH2) Mines <br />Response to First Adequacy Review Page 9