2013-02-14_PERMIT FILE - X201123201

• Permit No: X201123201
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 2/14/2013
• Doc Name: Open Exploration Project
• From: DRMS
• To: New Elk Coal Company
• Email Name: ERR
• Email Name: JDM
• Email Name: DIH
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
Department of Natural Resources
O L RA D O
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
D I I V I E S I ION Of
D
Denver, Colorado 80203
RECLAMATION
Phone: [phone]
MINING
FAX: [phone]
—&—
SAF ETY
February 14, 2013
John W. Hickenlooper
Ron Thompson
Governor
New Elk Coal Company, LLC
Mike King
12250 Highway 12
Executive Director
Weston, CO 81091
Loretta Pineda
Director
RE: Open Exploration Project
Dear Mr. Thompson:
The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (Division) is in the process of reviewing
outstanding Notices of Intents (NOI) on file that have expired, but remain open. As a part of this review,
the Division is updating the reclamation cost estimates associated with theses NOIs per Rule 3.02.2(4).
New Elk Coal Company has one of these NOIs.
Regulatory requirements for final bond release include a submittal of drill hole abandonment reports for
holes drilled, a final reclamation report, a formal written request to the Division requesting for bond
release, and an on -site inspection of the reclaimed success of approved activities. The status and a
summary of the open NOI is listed below.
X- 2011 - 232 -01
A $127,243.00 bond is held for the project known as the New Elk Mine 2011 Exploration Program
located in Section 19, T33S, R67W; Sections 1, 13, 24, T34S, R68W; Sections 7, 8, 16, 18, 21, 28, T34,
R67W in Las Animas County. Drill Hole Abandonment Reports have been received for holes NE- 06 -11,
NE- 10 -11, NE- 12 -11, NE- 13 -11, NE- 14 -11, NE- 15 -11, NE- 04 -12, and NE- 07 -12. A 180 -day Report was
received December 19, 2012 stating that the remaining holes will be drilled in 2013. This NOI expired on
September 30, 2012.
We ask you to consider the following:
1. If New Elk Coal Company requests the above mentioned NOI to remain active, please submit a
formal letter requesting the expiration to be extended to a date when all activities will be
completed, including the reclamation.
2. Per Rule 4.07.3(3), the operator shall submit abandonment report within 60 days after abandoning
a drill hole. Please submit abandonment reports for all holes drilled besides the ones listed above.
Report forms are located on the Division's website at http: / /mining.state.co.us /.
If you have any questions, please contact me at (303)866 -3567 ext. 8147.
Sincerely,
1 toff R. Russell
Environmental Protection Specialist
Office of Page 1 of 1 Office of
Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines