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United States Forest White River Sopris nger District <br /> Department of Service National P.O. Box 309 <br /> Agriculture Forest Carbondale, CO 81623 <br /> (303)963-2266 <br /> Reply: 2720/2800 <br /> Date: July 12, 1993 <br /> Michael B. Long RECEIVt:t) <br /> Mined Land Reclamation Division <br /> 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 JUL 1 4 199� <br /> Denver, Colorado 80203 DiViSi0 <br /> n of Il�lr�erd/� <br /> Dear Mr. Long: .ti � u�v�UyY <br /> We have the following comments, concerns, and recommendations to make on your <br /> proposed approval of Mid-Continent Resources' (MCR) revision of their approved <br /> reclamation plan in Coal Basin. The proposed revision is based on the <br /> suggested changes discussed in the written correspondence between Diane Delaney <br /> (MCR) and Tony Waldron between November 20, 1992 and April 7, 1993. Some of <br /> our comments below are based on our participation in recent inspection trips <br /> made by personnel from the Office Of Surface Mining (OSM) and your office. <br /> Over the last year we sent you the following three letters (copies enclosed) <br /> which are still valid, but the material in them will not be repeated here: <br /> a. August 24, 1992 - Letter discussed our position on post-mining <br /> recreation uses in Coal Basin. <br /> b. October 28, 1992 - Letter discusses the adequacy of MCR approved <br /> reclamation plan in light of the closing of coal mining operations in Coal <br /> Basin. <br /> C. May 11, 1993 - Letter discusses the options available to your agency in <br /> choosing who completes the reclamation work. <br /> RECLAMATION RECOMMENDATIONS <br /> Private Land Reclamation <br /> We are concerned about how the final reclamation will be permitted on MCR land <br /> because of it influences the use and management of the National Forest lands <br /> above and below the company's private land. <br /> The floodplains on the private lands on the lower part the mine have been <br /> severely impacted by their alteration and development. Any long term <br /> reclamation of the mine and restoration of the health of Coal Basin must take <br /> into account how these floodplains are going to function once the mine is <br /> reclaimed and abandoned. Aerial photos from 1952, 1973, and 1990 show the <br /> changes that have occurred to the floodplains. These should be studied in <br /> detail to help plan the reclamation of the floodplains. <br /> MCR has requested a change to their current reclamation plan which would allow <br /> burial of the building foundations in the base area. Mined Land Reclamation <br /> Division (MLRD has agreed to this proposal as long as there are two feet of <br /> cover over the foundation rubble at final grade Most of this area is <br /> floodplain. Burial in the floodplain should not be permitted. Reclamation <br /> should include removal of all manmade structures, facilities, and deposits from <br /> the floodplains. <br />