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Page 2 of 2 <br />Service and the BLM complete the lease modification process, please submit all documents and <br />written explanations that will satisfy Rule 2.03.6(1) for both Federal leases (COC -61357 and <br />COC- 70615). <br />Rule 2.04.11 Fish and Wildlife Resources Information <br />1. In August 2005, a large scale block survey was conducted by Monarch and Associates to <br />delineate vegetation/habitat types and conduct surveys for wildlife and plants listed as <br />Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Species (TESS) (Exhibit 2.04 — E7). The survey <br />concluded that no TESS wildlife species or their habitat was found. Since the release of this <br />report, three new Colorado species have been designated for Federal protection as threatened or <br />endangered: Pagosa skyrocket, Parachute beardtongue and DeBeque phacelia (Federal Register <br />Vol. 47, No. 44, 7/27/2011, http://www.fws.gov/mountain- <br />prairie/ species / plants/ 3ColoradoPlants /76FR45054.pdf). Please address these additional <br />species and whether any populations may be impacted due to the proposed mining expansion. <br />Rule 2.05.3 Operation Plan <br />1. A detailed map was included with the application packet outlining the proposed new mine <br />workings, but not all the required information was included in the text. Please address, in the <br />text, the issues raised in Rule 2.05.3(1) and 2.05.3(2)(b) and how the operation plan of the <br />current Elk Creek Mine will change. <br />2. Please address the additional projected volume of coal waste and if the present coal waste <br />management facilities are approved to contain the additional waste (2.05.3(8)). <br />3. Presently, water from the mine workings are transferred to a large underground sump <br />(approximately 7.8 million gallon capacity) for temporary storage and settling of suspended <br />solids then reused back in the mine. When there is an excess amount of water or it becomes <br />stagnant, water is discharged to the surface or transferred to the underlying Somerset Mine B <br />seam workings Will the current water management system be used for the proposed PR -6 <br />mining operations? Do the Somerset Mine B seam workings have the capacity to handle the <br />additional water? <br />Rule 2.05.4 Reclamation Plan <br />1. The current permit, the last paragraph on page 2.05 -57 and the second paragraph on page 2.05- <br />63 both describe the reconstruction of the Elk Creek channel. The reconstruction descriptions <br />and specifications are different between the two paragraphs. Please correct this discrepancy for <br />congruency and to prevent confusion. <br />Please contact me if you have any questions regarding this letter. <br />Sincerely, <br />Brock Bowles <br />Environmental Protection Specialist <br />cc: Sandy Brown (electronically) <br />