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United States Department of the Interior+` <br />BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT <br />Uncompahgre Field Office <br />2465 South Townsend Avenue TAKE PRIDE* <br />Montrose, Colorado 81401 INAMERIGA <br />www.co.blm.gov <br />In Reply <br />Refer to: COS05000, 3400 OCT 0 9 2012 <br />Christy Hulsman <br />Natural Resources Specialist <br />Office of Surface Mining, Western Region <br />1999 Broadway, Suite 3320 <br />Denver, CO 80202 -3050 <br />RE: Proposed Decision of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (CDRMS) <br />SL -03 Partial Phase I Bond Release at the West Elk Mine, Permit Number C- 1980 -007 <br />Dear Ms. Hulsman: <br />In response to your email of September 4, 2012, my staff has reviewed your request for <br />concurrence to Phase I Bond Release for reclamation that was conducted between 2002 and 2010 <br />by Mountain Coal Company. The release includes 47.65 acres of completed: 1) Plugging and <br />abandonment of 74 drill holes, 2) Backfilling and regrading of 48 drill pads; and, 3) Backfilling <br />and regrading of approximately 8.5 miles of roads. <br />We have determined that the lands covered in the request are federal lands managed by the Grand <br />Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forest (GMUG) and the mining activities were <br />conducted on federal coal. The drill holes and related pads and roads functioned as methane <br />drainage site facilities and are no longer necessary since the federal coal has been mined out and <br />that section of the mine has been abandoned. In addition, the reclamation appears to be properly <br />carried out as reported. <br />If the GMUG is satisfied with the reclamation completed, then the BLM has no objection to the <br />Phase I Bond release. <br />If you have any questions please contact Desty Dyer at 970 - 240 -5302. <br />Sincerely, <br />9"t� 444�-� <br />Barbara Sharrow, <br />Field Office Manager <br />