|
F -7GE ED
<br />OCT 0 J 2011
<br />vi Reclamation,
<br />Mining and Safety
<br />Mountain Coal Company, LLC (MCC), P.O. Box 591, Somerset, CO 81434, (970) 929-
<br />5015, has filed a Phase II Bond Release Request Application to MCC's Mining and
<br />Reclamation Permit No. C -80 -007 with the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board
<br />(Board), under the provisions of the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act of
<br />1979. The permit was originally issued by the Board in July 1981, and subsequently
<br />renewed in August 1986, January 1993 (effective August 1991), July 1996, July 2001,
<br />and April 2007 (effective July 2006.) The current five -year permit term expires July 31,
<br />2011 and is in the process of renewal. The State of Colorado holds a surety reclamation
<br />bond in the amount of $15,000,000.00 for the mine that exceeds the current reclamation
<br />liability. The West Elk Mine five -year permit area contains lands in Sections 9 -11, 13-
<br />36, T13S, R9OW, 6 PM; and Sections 23 -26, T13S, R91W, 6th PM, and Sections 1 -5 ,
<br />8 -12, T14S, R9OW, 6 PM in Delta and Gunnison Counties. The location of the lands
<br />can be found on the USGS 7.5 minute Somerset and Minnesota Pass Quadrangle
<br />Topographic Maps. The current permit area encompasses approximately 17,154.9 acres.
<br />Public Notice
<br />MCC is requesting Phase II Bond Release for reclaimed methane drainage wells, the
<br />Thermal Event area, Lone Pine area, and roads in the Dry Fork of Minnesota Creek and
<br />West Flatiron Areas. This area covers approximately 67.6 acres of private and National
<br />Forest System lands specifically located within portions of Sections 14, 15, 22, 23, 26,
<br />27, 34, 35 and 36, Township 13 South, Range 90 West, and Sections 1 and 2,
<br />Township 14 South, Range 90 West. These drill sites and roads were necessary for coal
<br />exploration and methane drainage over the past fifteen years. MCC is requesting a
<br />release of reclamation bond liability of an additional twenty -five percent ($400,000.00)
<br />above the amount calculated under the initial Phase I release, for a total release of 85% of
<br />the applicable bond amount posted for those sites, as allowed by Colorado statute and
<br />Rule 3.03. This amount will be verified by the State of Colorado. The reclaimed areas
<br />have met the applicable vegetation bond release criteria for Phase II bond release and
<br />MCC has provided a demonstration that surface runoff from the reclaimed areas does
<br />not contribute sediment levels above that of adjacent native undisturbed areas.
<br />Reclamation of the various drill site locations and roads within MCC's permit were
<br />completed between 1996 and 2007. This included proper plugging and abandonment of
<br />drill holes, as well as backfilling and regrading of drill pad locations and roads, and
<br />replacement of salvaged topsoil. The well sites and roads proposed for bond release
<br />have been revegetated using various methods of seeding, fertilizing, and mulching,
<br />including the installation of straw and erosion control matting.
<br />A copy of the Phase II Bond Release application is available for review at the
<br />Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, 1313 Sherman Street, Room
<br />215 Denver, CO 80203, phone (303) 866 -3567, and the Gunnison County Planning
<br />Office, 221 N. Wisconsin, Suite D, Gunnison, CO 81230. Comments or objections
<br />concerning the application should be directed to the CDRMS at the above address
<br />not later than 30 days after the first date of publication of this notice (published 4
<br />times consecutively) in order to be considered.
<br />
|