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Public Notice <br />The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (Division) has begun the process of <br />terminating its jurisdiction over the reclaimed GEC Coal Mine. The mine site is located <br />approximately 12 miles southwest of the city of Florence in Fremont County. The disturbed and <br />reclaimed areas are located in portions of Sections 24 and 25, Township 20 South, Range 70 <br />West of the 6th P.M. and portions of Sections 19 and 30, Township 20 South, Range 69 West of <br />the 6th P.M. The former permit area under consideration for termination of jurisdiction is <br />approximately 720 acres of which 183.9 acres were disturbed. The surface ownership is <br />private, and the coal mined was private. <br />The area has an extensive history of mining. The GEC Mine was originally permitted by GEC <br />Minerals (the operator) under interim permit No. 77 -48, issued November 3, 1980. On <br />December 12, 1982 the Division issued permanent program permit No. C- 1981 -037 to GEC <br />Minerals. The bond was a Letter of Credit. The Mined Land Reclamation Board (the Board) <br />revoked the GEC permit due to a pattern of violations on February 23, 1984. As part of the <br />settlement agreement, the Board did not forfeit the GEC bond (of $534,000.00), however, GEC <br />Minerals, Inc. was ordered to reclaim all portions of the mine. <br />Shortly after the permit revocation, GEC Minerals, Inc. reclaimed the West Pit area and applied <br />for a Phase I Bond Release on December 9, 1985. The Division approved the partial Phase I <br />Bond Release on February 14, 1986. The approval of the partial Phase I Bond Release granted <br />release of $85,800.00, or 60% of the liability assigned to reclamation of the West Pit. GEC <br />Minerals, Inc. did not complete any more reclamation at the mine. <br />The Board forfeited the remaining reclamation bond on June 11, 1987. The Division contracted <br />the remaining reclamation work that was completed between 1993 and 1995. The reclamation <br />work conducted between 1993 and 1995 expended all available bond monies. The Division <br />received severance tax monies in 2000. The Division conducted some maintenance projects at <br />the site. At the request of the landowner, additional projects were halted. Since the Permit <br />was revoked and the bond was forfeited, the Division has conducted regular and periodic <br />inspection to document the condition of the site. As all available monies for the site have been <br />expended, no additional funds are available for maintenance at the GEC mine. <br />Written comments, objections, or requests for an informal conference may be submitted to the <br />Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety, 1313 Sherman street, room 215, Denver, <br />CO 80203, within 30 days of the last publication of this notice. <br />taken down 6/13/2013 <br />