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MINE ENGINEERING <br />MINE RECLAMATION <br />May 3, 2012 <br />Mr. Mike Boulay <br />Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />101 South 3 Suite 301 <br />Grand Junction, CO 81501 <br />Re: Snowcap Coal Company, Inc. <br />Permit Revision (PR -5), Adequacy Response Submittal <br />Changes to Final Reclamation Plan — North Portal and Coal Canyon <br />Permit No. C- 1981 -041 <br />Dear Mr. Boulay: <br />J. E. STOVER & ASSOCIATES, INC. <br />2352 N. 7 STREET, UNIT B <br />GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO 81501 <br />PHONE: (970) 245 -4101, FAX 242 -7908 <br />RECEIVED <br />MAY 0 7 2012 <br />Diviaw,, ar Reofayeetion, <br />Mining ail Safety <br />The DRMS' letter dated April 20, 2012 transmitted its adequacy comments regarding the <br />referenced permit revision. Following are Snowcap's responses to the DRMS' comments and <br />concerns: <br />PR -5 PRELIMINARY ADEQUACY REVIEW COMMENTS <br />CIVIL ENGINEERING <br />CONST. MANAGEMENT <br />1. DRMS: The reclamation plan(s) Tab 14 text was updated appropriately for all of the above <br />mentioned drainage control features with exception of the CBA #1 and CBA #1 Sump. An <br />appropriate soil Toss demonstration was provided for these features (new Appendix 14 -3) but the <br />reclamation plan description was not updated. CBA #1 is discussed on pages 14 -5 and 14 -11 but <br />no reclamation description is given. Please update the reclamation plan accordingly. <br />SCC: Additional text was added to the bottom of permit page 14 -5 updating the reclamation <br />plan for CBA #1. <br />2. DRMS: SCC is requesting that the remaining portion of Topsoil Pile 2 be left in place due to <br />guy wires anchors supporting transmission power poles buried in the remnant of Topsoil Pile 2. <br />This seems to be the appropriate course of action and the height of the pile is not significant to <br />require a variance from the approximate original contour. Please add a discussion to page 14- <br />10 describing the configuration of the pile. The pile should be stable and well vegetated, <br />blend into the surrounding terrain and shall not impede the drainage pattern of the <br />surrounding terrain or impound water. <br />SCC: Additional text was added to the end of the first paragraph of permit page 14 -10. <br />3. DRMS: The US Corp of Engineers recommended that the Coal Canyon drainage, which was <br />previously approved for realignment during the reclamation of Ponds 6 and 10, remain in its <br />current configuration. The drainage is stable in its current position and according to Corp of <br />Engineers personnel realignment for the sake of routing the drainage back to its original contours <br />would not be a justifiable reason for issuing a Corp Permit. The Division concurs with not re- <br />disturbing the current alignment of Coal Canyon and will propose to approve leaving Coal Canyon <br />