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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 C O L O R ADO <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 0[ v[ S I o N o f <br />RECLAMATION <br />Phone: (303) 866 -3567 MINING <br />FAX: (303) 832 -8106 _ St— <br />SAFETY <br />March 29, 2013 <br />John W. Hickenlooper <br />Governor <br />Mr. David Francomb <br />Mike King <br />Acting District Ranger <br />Executive Director <br />White River National Forest <br />Loretta E. Pmeda <br />Aspen - Sopris Ranger District <br />Director <br />P.O. Box 309 <br />Carbondale, CO 81623 <br />RE: Coal Basin Mine <br />Revoked Permit No. C- 1981 -017 <br />Dear Mr. Francomb: <br />Thank you for meeting with the representatives from the Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety (Division) on March 5, <br />2013 to talk about the Division's role at the Coal Basin Mine. In summary, Permit No. C- 1981 -017 was initially issued to Mid - <br />Continent Resources on May 31, 1983. Mid Continent Resources, the operator of the mine, declared bankruptcy in 1992. <br />Subsequently, the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board revoked the permit, and forfeited the reclamation bond in 1994. As a <br />result of these actions, the Division assumed the task of completing mine reclamation. Reclamation construction began in 1995, as <br />provided for in Colorado Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (Act) and was substantially completed by the end of 2001 with <br />some maintenance work continuing through 2006. The Division has continued to inspect and monitor the mine site at least twice a <br />year, however there are no funds remaining for any additional reclamation work. <br />The Division terminated jurisdiction on all privately held lands within the Coal Basin permit area in November 2007 and we are <br />prepared to terminate jurisdiction on the remaining permit area located on. Forest System lands this year. This process will entail <br />conducting a final inspection, preparing a findings document, notifying the land management agency (USFS) and publishing a notice <br />two times in the Glenwood Springs Independent. There will be a 30 -day public comment period following the first publication. If <br />necessary, an adjudicatory hearing before the Mined Land Reclamation Board will be held if there is an objection to the termination. <br />The termination will be final after the end of the comment period or, if necessary, after the Board hearing. <br />As part of the termination of jurisdiction process, the Division is requesting written land management agency concurrence <br />acknowledging the completed reclamation work and acknowledging that the Division will no longer be involved with active <br />reclamation activities at the mine site. Since the U.S. Forest Service is the land management agency for the remaining permit area, <br />we will be requesting your concurrence after the field inspection; tentatively scheduled for mid -July. The Division will coordinate <br />with you on the exact dates for the inspection. <br />Again, thank you for meeting with us and for your cooperation in this process. Please feel free to contact me if you have any <br />questions. <br />Sincerely, <br />Sandra L. Brown <br />Sr. Environmental Protection Specialist <br />C. Scott Fitzwilliams, USFS <br />Steve Renner, DRMS <br />Brock Bowles, DRMS <br />Office of Office of <br />Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines <br />