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STATE OF COLORADO <br />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 />May 13, 2013 <br />Dr. W. D. Corley <br />The Corley Company <br />2605 Constellation Drive <br />Colorado Springs, CO 80906 -5807 <br />Re: Southfield Mine C1981 -014 <br />Proposed Decision Technical Revision No. 39 <br />Proposed change to Ponderosa- Pinyon- Juniper Reference Area <br />Dear Dr. Corley: <br />COLORADO <br />ID IV I S I O N O F <br />RECLAMATION <br />MINING <br />SAFETY <br />John W. Hickenlooper <br />Governor <br />Mike King <br />Executive Director <br />Loretta E. Pineda <br />Director <br />This letter is to inform you that the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety is <br />proposing to approve Technical Revision No. 39 (TR39). The application was submitted by <br />Energy fuels Coal Company for the Southfield Mine. As a previous commenter regarding this <br />revision, we are providing notice of this proposed decision. <br />During the review of TR39, you provided comments to the Division in an e -mail, dated June 1, <br />2012, regarding the proposed change of location of the Ponderosa/Pinyon/Juniper reference area. <br />Your concerns were considered within the context of the Act and Regulations [34 -33- 120(2), <br />4.15.7(3), 4.15.7(4), 4.15.8(2), 4.15.8(3), 4.15.8(4), 4.15.8(6), 4.15.8(7)]. <br />The Division finds that the proposed reference area for the Pinyon Woodland community will <br />result more stringent reclamation success standard for live vegetative cover. The data provided <br />in the application measured the cover on the proposed reference area at 23.07% versus the <br />11.39% cover measured in the baseline data Plot B. Vegetation measurements indicated that he <br />proposed reference area has a higher amount of shrubs and trees with 66.76% relative cover, <br />versus 38.66% relative cover in the baseline data. The proposed Pinyon- Juniper reference area <br />measured the woody stem density at 6375 woody stems per acre. The proposed reference area is <br />larger.1.75 acres versus 0.3 acres. The approved Ponderosa - Pinyon- Juniper reference area is <br />showing evidence of die -off. The Newlin Creek area has experienced several years of droughty <br />conditions. Juniper and Pinyon pine die -off has been observed throughout the area. Although <br />some trees have shown die -off in the proposed reference area, it does not appear as pronounced. <br />Any person with an interest which may be adversely affected by the proposed decision may request <br />a formal hearing before the Mined Land Reclamation Board within thirty (30) days of the first <br />publication of this notice in the Canon City Daily Record. Such request must be made within thirty <br />(30) days of the initial publication of this notice, must be in writing, and must state with reasonable <br />specificity the reasons for the request and the objections to the proposed decision. <br />Office of Office of <br />Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines <br />