Laserfiche WebLink
WENDELL A. KOONTZ <br />Mayor <br />October 07, 2011 <br />Mr. Desty Dyer <br />BLM -UFO <br />2465 South Townsend Ave. <br />Montrose, CO 81401 <br />RE: Oak Mesa Coal Exploration Plan COC -74911 <br />Dear Desty, <br />TRUSTEES: <br />TOWN OF HOTCHKISS <br />P.O. Box 369 <br />HOTCHKISS, COLORADO 81419 <br />(970) 872 -3663 <br />www.townofhotchkiss.com <br />Sheila Maki Marlin McCracken Jane Wills Lindee Cantrell Dustyn Foster Carrie Wingfield <br />MARLENE SEARLE <br />Town Clerk <br />The Town of Hotchkiss is grateful for the opportunity to comment on Oxbow Mining's <br />proposed Oak Mesa Federal Coal Exploration Drilling Program. The Town lies 7 miles south of <br />the proposed exploration area and will likely see the greatest impact from the exploration and <br />potential coal development. We would like to share areas of concern to be addressed for the <br />Exploration Drilling. <br />Leroux Creek, Dever Creek, Short Draw, and Jay Creek are all drainages that affect the <br />Town's drinking water and supply the community surrounding the Town with irrigation water. <br />Access road and drill pad construction should follow the Best Management Practices as <br />identified in Oxbow's Exploration Plan for control of surface water runoff, soil erosion, and dust <br />(berms, straw bales, silt fences, gravel surfacing, etc. pg 6 para. 6) should be employed and <br />maintained to protect the culinary and irrigation water for the community. <br />Reclamation and reseeding should likewise follow the procedures identified in the <br />Exploration Plan (pg. 9 Site Reclamation) to ensure long -term success of the reclamation. The <br />watershed for the Town's drinking water supply lies partially within the Exploration Area and <br />requires we monitor activities that may impact it. <br />The Town also requests notification of oversized equipment that may be transported thru <br />Town affecting events such as the Sheepdog Trials, Delta County Fair, parades, or other events. <br />The contact can be made thru Marshall Daniel Miller at the Hotchkiss Marshal Office at (970) - <br />872 -3848, Town Hall at (970)872 -3663 or on our website www.townofhotchkiss.com <br />