2012-10-17_REVISION - C1981008 (2)

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Greg Lewicki And Associates, PLLC 0 .°) Marcia Talvitie ,� 1 v a � `o �, Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety O CR G � a cc•, ‘ 1313 Sherman St, Room 215 o��e a`ce Denver, CO 80203 � • . `o g gr October 17, 2012 Marcia, 11541 Warrington Court Phone: (3 03) 346-5 196 Fax (303 )-346 -693.1 Parker, CO USA 80138 E -Mail: info@Iewicl.i.biz RE: New Horizon Mine: Permit Revision 07 of C -1981 -008 The New Horizon Mine (C -81 -008) reclamation permit with the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (DRMS or "the Division ") is being revised by the applicant, Western Fuels- Colorado (WFC), as the final step in responding to DRMS and Office of Surface Mining (OSM) requirements put forth in late 2011. These requirements were based on the OSM evaluation of the permit as it stood following Permit Revision 06 (PR -06). Permit Revision 07 (PR -07) incorporates a re- evaluation of the prime farmland within the permit boundary, an evaluation of the suitability of stockpiled soils for use in reclaiming both prime and non -prime farmland, the replacement of a technical standard with a reference area for Irrigated Cropland revegetation success, and the revision of permit sections to incorporate changes spawned by these new elements. The pre -mine soil mapping and qualifications on the Morgan Property (southwest of the BB Road /2700 Road intersection within the permit) have been re- evaluated by prime farmland soil experts using existing soil surveys on site along with new data gathered in a Sampling and Analysis Plan in late 2011. New soil mapping has been applied to the Morgan Property based on this re- evaluation, and is reflected in the updated maps and sections of the permit. Since the new soil mapping supersedes the 1998 soil survey that previously applied to the property, the 1998 data was moved from within Section 2.04.9 to Attachment 2.04.9 -11. The 1998 soil survey data is still relevant, since it guided the stripping of soil on large portions of the permit. All prime farmland specific information can be found in Section 2.06.6. In the case where the reclamation plans for prime farmland are the same as non - prime, the reclamation plans are found in the appropriate permit section. For example: the revegetation plan for Irrigated Cropland is the same for both non -prime and prime farmland areas, and therefore is contained in Section 2.05.4(2)(e). Since prime farmland has different reclamation success criteria, that specific revegetation information is found in Section 2.06.6. Discussions of the extents of prime farmland within the Morgan Property, as well as the suitability of stockpiled soil for redistribution are also covered in Section 2.06.6.