2011-07-25_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981008

• Permit No: C1981008
• IBM Index Class Name: GENERAL DOCUMENTS
• Doc Date: 7/25/2011
• Doc Name: Response to OSM
• From: DRMS
• To: OSM
• Permit Index Doc Type: General Correspondence
• Email Name: DAB
• Email Name: SB1
• Email Name: MLT
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
July 25, 2011
Mr. Al Klein
Mr. Kenneth Walker
Office of Surface Mining
1999 Broadway, Suite 3320
Denver, CO 80202 -3050
Dear Mr. Klein and Mr. Walker:
The DRMS staff and leadership have gone to extraordinary efforts to address and attempt resolution of
Ms. Turner's complaints. We have responded to Ms. Turner through meetings, in writing and during
Office of
Mined Land Reclamation
STATE OF COLORADO
COLORADO
D I V I S I O N O F
RECLAMATION
MINING
SAFETY
John W. Hickenlooper
Govemor
Mike King
Executive Director
Loretta E. Pineda
Director
This letter is provided in response to the email transmittal and attachment (dated May 4, 2011) from
Kenneth Walker (Office of Surface Mining —OSM) to David Berry (Colorado Division of Reclamation
Mining and Safety — DRMS). The email transmittal contains allegations by Ms. JoEllen Turner regarding
the Colorado DRMS. The email also contains implied allegations from OSM. As discussed in person, we
appreciate the opportunity to address the allegations made by Ms. Turner, but we were concerned by the
tone of the email message from OSM. The email message and transcript are attached here for our
respective records.
The DRMS staff and leadership implement the mine regulatory functions for the state of Colorado. The
regulatory functions include oversight of all coal and mineral mining operations in the state. These
operations total approximately 1600 coal and non coal mines and approximately 350 coal and non coal
exploration notices. This work involves extensive coordination with stakeholders throughout the state
including citizens, mine operators, and local, state and federal agencies. The provision of effective and
responsive service to all of our stakeholders is our top priority, and we strongly disagree with the
implication contained in the email message that the Division has in any way failed in this duty.
We also disagree with the allegations contained in the voice message transcript. Ms. Turner alleges that
community members have contacted the DRMS on multiple occasions and that DRMS is unresponsive.
We are not aware of any phone calls made by community members as alleged by Ms. Turner. All written
citizen and agency comments and objections received regarding the Western Fuels - Colorado (WFC)
Permit Revision Number 6 (PRO6) are of record and were handled appropriately within the review and
hearing process.
Following receipt of the OSM email and transcript, I contacted Mr. Buckshot Burbridge on May 11,
2011. I asked Mr. Burbridge if he previously called the DRMS, and he responded that he had tried but
was unable to navigate the phone system. He confirmed with me that he did not leave any messages for
me or our staff. I conveyed my contact information during our May 11, 2011 telephone conversation and
I asked that he transmit any complaints to me with a letter. He has subsequently done so, and we are
addressing his complaint with WFC.
Office of
Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines