2011-10-03_REVISION - C1981012

• Permit No: C1981012
• IBM Index Class Name: REVISION
• Doc Date: 10/3/2011
• Doc Name: Responses to DRMS Comments & Concerns
• From: J.E. Stover & Associates, Inc
• To: DRMS
• Type & Sequence: MR96
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

MINE ENGINEERING
MINE RECLAMATION
September 29, 2011
Dear Mr. Hernandez:
J. E. STOVER & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Daniel Hernandez
Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety
1313 Sherman St , Room 215
Denver, CO 80203
Re: New Elk Mine Permit C- 1981 -012
Minor Revision No. 96 Drill Hole NE -16 -11
2352 NORTH 7 STREET, UNIT B
GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO 81501
PHONE: [phone], FAX [phone]
fteCeN
OCT 03 2011
oivision of Reclamat' ton,
Mining and Safety
CIVIL ENGINEERING
CONST. MANAGEMENT
The DRMS' e-mail dated September 12, 2011 transmitted its adequacy response for the referenced minor
revision. On behalf of New Elk Coal Company (NECC) following are its responses to the DRMS'
comments and concerns.
1. DRMS - Please provide revised permit pages for the New Elk Mine permit to describe the
purpose, location and depth of this borehole (Rule 2.05.3(2)(b)). Please include in this description
the aerial extent of the proposed disturbance. Please discuss whether this activity will involve the
use of any mud pits; f so, please describe how much water may be used to conduct the drilling.
NECC - The purpose of the hole was hydrologic testing. The hole was located in a previously
disturbed area. No mud pit was required. See amended page 2.05 -5e.
2. DRMS - Please describe if the hole will be cased, and if so, how. As it appears that this hole may
be drilled in somewhat close proximity to the Purgatoire River, the hole may need to be cased in
such a manner so as to prevent impacts to surface and near - surface aquifers.
NECC - The 9 inch diameter hole will be cased to a depth of 40 feet utilizing 6 5/8" steel casing.
Because of the location in the valley drilling mud will need to be used in order to support the
gravel fill material and set the casing. For this a standalone mud tank.
3. DRMS - Will the surface water runoff from this proposed disturbance be directed to an approved
sedimentation pond? If not, will a small area exemption ("SAE") demonstration be needed to be
inserted into the permit (Rule 4.05.2(3)(a) and (b)(i))?
NECC - Yes, all runoff will flow into the approved sedimentation pond adjacent to the hole.
4. DRMS - Please commit to updating the permit with a future minor revision to include in the
permit the information described in Rule 2.04.6(3)(a)(iii). Please commit to providing in this
future MR copies of driller's logs, core logs, geophysical logs, etc that will be obtained in
conjunction with the drilling of this borehole.