2013-12-06_REVISION - C1982056 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Peab C 1111 ENERGY Twentymile Coal, LLC 29515 Routt County Road 27 Oak Creek, CO 80467 970.879.3800 Mr. Jason Musick �l ""'"® December 3, 2013 Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety """�� - r Ilk— _ a ;D 1313 Sherman St., Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203 OMSION Or Cy(, •.1 0 : U l3 303.866.3567 X8134 MIN1NG,q rp S� NATION ETY DIVISION' OF RECLAMATION Re: Minor Revision MR13 -272, TRO Coal Quality Coreholes 5 -10 MINING AND SAFETY Dear Mr. Musick; With this submittal, Twentymile Coal, LLC (TC) is requesting CDRMS approval of a Minor Revision (MR13 -272) to our existing approved Mining and Reclamation Permit, for access development, construction of drill -pads, and drilling and logging of up to 6 additional coreholes in our Eastern Mining District (EMD). This submittal also modifies the location and corehole designations for two of the coreholes previously approved under MR13 -269. The purpose of the proposed corehole program is to more accurately define the extent, configuration, and quality of the Wolf Creek Coal Seam, and to assess overburden and coal physical and chemical characteristics, for planning and implementation of possible future mining operations in this area. The proposed activities will occur on lands, and will affect surface and minerals owned or controlled by TC, and will be conducted during the fall and winter of 2013, with some activities potentially extending into 2014, as shown on Figure EX52 -172, TRO Coal Quality Coreholes. Environmental baseline studies, including cultural resource surveys and wildlife consultation with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, have been completed for the proposed drill sites, and will be documented by a cultural resource survey report and wildlife consultation letter, which will be forwarded on receipt. Drill -sites have been selected and located to facilitate access from existing County and ranch roads. Minor maintenance may be required for portions of the existing ranch roads, including grading to address rills or washouts and placement of suitable road -base materials or rock/gravel, to assure good access during any wet conditions and minimize any road damage. Where direct access from existing roads is not feasible, drilling equipment and supplies may travel overland short distances during periods when ground conditions are favorable to access the drill sites, or short temporary connecting roads will be constructed. Where road maintenance or construction involve any significant new disturbance, soil materials will be recovered and stockpiled for later use in reclamation, as appropriate. The maximum anticipated road maintenance /construction disturbance requirements will be approximately 6,000 feet (3.5 acres with a 25 ft. maximum road disturbance width). Drill pads will be approximately 75 x 75 feet (0.15 acres), with soil material stripping limited to an area around the drillhole collar, and the area surrounding any mud pits necessary to support drilling operations, in order to minimize disturbance and facilitate site reclamation. If additional site work is required to establish a level pad, any affected areas will be stripped and the soil material stockpiled for use in reclaiming the site. Wattles, sediment fence, and /or berms will be used to control site drainage and prevent off - site sediment transport, with drainage and sediment control for the associated disturbance being addressed as Small Area Exemptions (SAE's). Nominal 4.805 -inch drillholes will be completed using conventional