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DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone: (303) 866 -3567 <br />FAX: (303) 832 -8106 <br />December 4, 2012 <br />Mr. Stuart Sanderson <br />President . <br />Colorado Mining Association <br />216 16 Street, Suite 1250 <br />Denver, CO 80202 <br />Re: 2012 Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety <br />Coal Program and Colorado Mining Association (CMA) — Coal Reclamation Awards <br />Dear Stuart: <br />Excellence in Final Reclamation of Drainage Features <br />Snowcap Coal Company <br />Roadside Mine <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />COLORADO <br />D I V I S I O N O F <br />RECLAMATION <br />MINING <br />— &— <br />SAFETY <br />John W. Hickenlooper <br />Govemor <br />Mike King <br />Executive Director <br />Loretta E. Pineda <br />Director <br />The Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) Coal Program staff considered four nominations that <br />were submitted for the Coal Reclamation Awards. I am forwarding three nominations to you for consideration <br />as discussed below. The fourth nomination from Mountain Coal Company was for slide remediation. After <br />discussion by the Staff, it was decided that the nomination was premature. Work was completed on the <br />project in April 2012 and the staff believes it would be best to wait a year to confirm the stability of the <br />completed work. We will reconsider the Mountain Coal Company nomination next year. • <br />I am pleased to forward the following three nominations for the 2012 DRMS and CMA Coal Mining and <br />Reclamation Awards. <br />Snowcap Coal Company is nominated for the permitting and construction of the final sedimentation and <br />drainage features at the Cameo Mine in Mesa County. A complicated system of drainages and drainage <br />reconstruction had been approved in the original permit. The Army Corp of Engineer did not want additional <br />disturbance in Coal Creek and Coal Gulch that were part of the sediment control system and permitted to be <br />returned to their original locations. The two drainages were stable and well vegetated and the Corp requested <br />that they remain in the present configuration and location. To accomplish the Corp request, Snowcap <br />prepared new designs for the reclamation of several ponds allowing the two drainages to remain undisturbed. <br />Snowcap worked with multiple agencies during the project design and revision review to permit the <br />permanent drainages in Coal Creek and Coal Gulch and associated pond reclamation. Additionally, the Bureau <br />of Reclamation requested changes to a mine site diversion ditch to redirect discharge into an irrigation ditch. <br />Snowcap coordinated with all agencies and submitted a well prepared permit revision to DRMS in March of <br />2012. After getting approval in July, Snowcap completed construction work in October. <br />Office of Office of <br />Mined Land Reclamation <br />Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines <br />