_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981017 ‎(159)‎

• Permit No: C1981017
• IBM Index Class Name: GENERAL DOCUMENTS
• Doc Name: Bid Documents ‎(IMP)‎
• Permit Index Doc Type: General Correspondence
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
°F•coto
Department of Natural Resources e�
N
1313 Sherman St.,Room 215 + +
Denver,CO 80203 ` "
Phone:[phone] �a�e
FAX:[phone]
Roy Romer
Governor
Michael B.Long
Division Director
DATE: December 13, 1993
TO: Steve Renner
FROM: Dave Bucknam
RE: Inactive Mine Program projects in Coal Basin
During the past three years the Inactive Mine Program has conducted
reclamation work at sites in Coal Basin. It is my understanding that there is
some question about which sites are eligible for work under our program and
how we select sites for reclamation.
"Abandoned" sites eligible are those which were mined for coal or which were
affected by such mining prior to August 3, 1977, and for which there is no
continuing reclamation responsibility. Whenever proposing work in the
vicinity of a permitted operation, we are especially careful to coordinate
with the Coal Program to assure that no reclamation is required by the
permittee. Our policy has been to obtain a letter regarding eligibility from
the Coal Program if we have any uncertainty.
Every Spring we work with the Inactive Mine Program Advisory Council to select
sites which meet the priorities of Title IV of SMCRA, meet the eligibility
criteria, are feasible, and which are locally supported. Title IV places coal
problems and hazardous sites above non-coal and environmental degradation
sites. The Inactive Mine Program has safeguarded virtually all the known
hazardous abandoned coal sites in Colorado and reclaimed all the significant
environmental degradation problems associated with abandoned coal mines. We
have not undertaken reclamation of non-hazardous coal mines nor those coal
waste piles with no offsite impact. It has been our policy not to reclaim
sites which are considered aesthetic problems.
The feasibility of reclamation considering the funds available is another
constraint. Within OSM's AML program, Colorado is considered a "minimum
program" state; meaning that the Colorado IMP receives the minimum amount of
funding allowed by law. As such we attempt to make our work as effective as
Possible. Our recent work on the steep coal waste areas in Coal Basin
reflected our effort to balance available funds with the on-site conditions.
Given unlimited funds we would have removed all the coal waste from the steep
slopes rather than, trying to stabilize them in place with a minimum amount of
disturbance. We wish we didn't have to make these tradeoffs but are forced to
do so because of the financial constraints.
I will direct Paul Krabacher of my staff to work with the Coal Program to see
if there are additional sites within Coal Basin which are appropriate for
reclamation. They will be considered if they meet the Inactive Mine Program's
constraints and procedures. In order to meet the schedule for our next grant
application to OSM, I need to have those sites identified by April 15, 1994.
Please let me know if you need any clarification.
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