2013-10-02_REVISION - C1981019 (4)

Home Browse Search

QP�tT °�tiF, United States Department of the Interior `G�oESURFgC��'L .p 9 O G1 OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING m Z Reclamation and Enforcement �, aQ Western Region Office 9�0 4ACH 3. ,o 1999 Broadway, Suite 3320 �D Denver, CO 80202 -3050 SEP 2 7 2013 RECEIVED David Berry, Director OCT 0 2 Z�13 Office of Mined Land Reclamation Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety DMSION OF RECLAMATION 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 MINING AND SAFETY Denver, CO 80203 -2273 RE: Approval of SL -07 Partial Phase I Bond Release, Colowyo Mine, Permit No. C -1981- 019, DRMS Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance dated August 29, 2013 Dear Mr. Berry, This letter acknowledges the Office of Surface Mining (OSM), Denver Field Division's (DFD) receipt and review of the above Phase I Bond Release Proposed Decision document prepared by the Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety (DRMS) dated August 29, 2013. The Proposed Decision documents the applicant's compliance with the approved Colorado regulatory program at Rule 3.03.2. This Phase I bond release applies to backfilling, grading, and drainage reestablishment on 125.2 acres associated with the East Pit, West Pit, and South Taylor areas including the Final East Pit Ditch and two ditches constructed along the sides of the West Pit Fill (West Taylor West Tributary and West Taylor East Tributary). DRMS is not approving bond release for 12.2 acres associated with topsoil stockpiles, a rock stockpile (for use as rip rap), and a scraper road. Colowyo Coal Company (CCC) removed these areas from the SL -7 application after discussions with DRMS. Although invited, OSM was not able to participate in the bond release inspection held on May 21, 2013. The BLM participated in the inspection. By letter dated September 27, 2013, the BLM provided its concurrence with SL -07 (attached). OSM interprets the BLM's concurrence to mean that CCC is in compliance with all BLM coal lease stipulations. OSM agrees with DRMS that CCC has met or exceeded the requirements for Phase I bond release on the 125.2 acres of land as described above. The Division currently holds a performance bond in the amount of $80,517,829.00 for the Colowyo Mine. The Division now proposes to release $727,269.00 and has determined that the remaining $79,790,560 is sufficient to assure completion of the reclamation plan if the work had to be performed by the Board through independent contractors in the event of forfeiture. OSM agrees with the findings and decision document and hereby provides OSM concurrence for the above bond release action in accordance with 30 CFR 740.15 (d) (3), and 30 CFR 906.30, Article IX, Section 24, of the State - Federal Cooperative Agreement.