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Therefore, reclamation of the site is being accomplished on a priority basis based upon <br /> our assessment of environmental need. As we have repeatedly stated at public <br /> meetings held over the past two years in Redstone and Carbondale, we will reclaim <br /> the site to the very best of our ability based upon environmental need and availability <br /> of funds. <br /> In order to supplement our resources, we have sought additional funds from the Office <br /> of Surface Mining. The OSM just recently provided a grant to Colorado for the <br /> purpose of constructing a permanent diversion for Dutch Creek, which will bypass the <br /> flume. Previously, these funds had been unavailable. We have also submitted project <br /> proposals to Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) and the AmeriCorps Program for <br /> the purpose of accomplishing erosion control and tree planting projects at the site. <br /> Unfortunately, the VOC project was not approved, however the AmeriCorps project <br /> has been given tentative approval. We anticipate the help and cooperation of the <br /> CVEPA and other local public interest groups while the AmeriCorps team is working <br /> at Coal Basin in June and July. <br /> Regarding your request for information about reclamation funding, you apparently <br /> misunderstood our March 14 response. As we stated, Colorado has received <br /> $1 ,503,810 from the liquidation plan. We have accounted for this amount. <br /> Additionally, should Mid-Continent Resources' demolition contractor complete the <br /> demolition work specified in its contract, an additional $500,000 would be credited <br /> to the liquidation dispersement. At that point $2,003,810 will have been accounted <br /> for. Under the terms of the liquidation plan, Resources is due some amount of credit <br /> for the reclamation work it performed by reclaiming Mine 5, by sealing the various <br /> mine entries, and by completing various other projects at the site. The credit claimed <br /> may be approximately $382,505. Note, however, that a final figure has not yet been <br /> forwarded to the Division from Resources, so an agreement as to the amount of <br /> reclamation credit to be applied has not been reached. Adding the amount received, <br /> the possible amount of reclamation credit and the amount of salvage credit yields a <br /> total of $2,386,315 which will have been credited to the Reclamation account. <br /> Subtracting this amount from the $3 million owed to the account (in cash and <br /> services) yields a balance of $613,685 owed. <br /> Currently, we estimate that the cost to complete reclamation at Coal Basin will be <br /> between $1 million and $1 .4 million. I hesitate to provide a project by project cost <br /> break down at this point. The project cost estimate is completed after all field work <br /> is accomplished and project specifications defined. This usually occurs during the <br /> winter prior to the project being initiated. You should note that it is not unusual for <br /> the price bid by independent contractors to vary from our estimates. In the past, we <br /> have received bids which have been under our estimate, and which have exceeded the <br /> estimate. <br /> The Division would like to address the CVEPA at its annual spring/summer meeting. <br /> We would like to spend about an hour discussing the reclamation work accomplished <br /> to date, and the reclamation plans for the 1997 construction season. Please let us <br />