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1, <br />OXBOW MINING, LLC <br />3737 Hwy 133 P.O. Box 535 Somerset, Colorado 81434 USA Tel (970)929 -5122 Fax <br />(970)929 -5177 <br />January 24, 2013 <br />Mr. Brock Bowles <br />Environmental Protection Specialist <br />Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado, 80203 <br />Dear Mr. Bowles, <br />• Page 1 <br />RECEIVED <br />JAN 3 i 2013 <br />Division of Reclamation, <br />Mining & Safety <br />,' <br />Re: Oxbow Mining LLC, Permit No. C- 1981 -022 - Request for MR -103 — Additional Borehole <br />WMX7 — Mine Atmosphere Monitor Borehole. <br />Oxbow Mining, LLC requests a Minor Revision No. 103 to Permit C- 1981 -022. The purpose of the <br />MR is to provide for an additional borehole, WMX7 to access and monitor the mine atmosphere in <br />the west main entries. <br />Background <br />As the Division is aware, due to the detection of gases in the Elk Creek Mine that indicated heating <br />activity behind the current longwall operation, the mine has been evacuated, disconnected from <br />power and is currently operating under plans approved by MSHA. <br />Temporary seals have been constructed to isolate the affected area of the mine. Oxbow is injecting <br />inert gasses into the mine to create an inert atmosphere. Once the mine atmosphere is inert, we <br />anticipate that MSHA will approve reentry into the mine to remove the longwall equipment. Once <br />the longwall is removed, permanent seals will be installed to permanently isolate the affected areas. <br />The borehole proposed in this MR is necessary to add capability to monitor the mine atmosphere in <br />the crosscut 7 area of the West Mains. <br />The Division should also be aware that additional boreholes may be identified in the near future to <br />facilitate the recovery of the mine. MSHA and Oxbow are in constant discussions, and we will keep <br />the Division informed as plans are developed. Please understand these issues are fluid and could <br />change on a daily basis. <br />We have included a small subset of our Map 2.05 -M1, Sheet 6 of 6, General Facilities — Gobvent <br />Boreholes showing the location of WMX7. We have also included a copy of the revised Page 8 of <br />Exhibit 2.04 -E3, Item 9- Methane Drainage Well Information. The Division should recall that this <br />Exhibit is being reviewed and revised per the MR -102 PAR and a final complete copy will be <br />submitted with the MR -102 responses. <br />The WMX7 site is located on top of a rocky knob along a preexisting two track ranch road located <br />on surface managed by the BLM. Because the area is located within the Federal Coal Lease COC- <br />