2018-05-31_REVISION - C1980007 ‎(8)‎

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 5/31/2018
• Doc Name: Comment Forwarded To Applicant
• From: Holly Annala
• To: DRMS
• Type & Sequence: PR15
• Email Name: LDS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

6/5/2018 State.co.us Executive Branch Mail - Fwd: Sunset Roadless Area is no place for a mine expansion!
STATE OF DRMS_CoalAdmin - DNR, DNR <dnr [e-mail]>
'r
COLORADO
Temp - DNR, DRMS <[e-mail]> Tue, Jun 5, 2018 at 9:19 AM
To: [e-mail], dnr—drms—coal—[e-mail]
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Holly Annala <[e-mail]>
Date: Thu, May 31, 2018 at 6:23 AM
Subject: Sunset Roadless Area is no place for a mine expansion!
To: "[e-mail]" <[e-mail]>
To: Ms. Ginny Brannon, Director - Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety
Hi Ginny, I am a resident of Crested Butte, Colorado and have been so for 22 years,
and grew up in Durango, Colorado on a small ranch. I am very familiar with the West
Elk Mine in Sunset.
I oppose West Elk Mine's permit revision number 15 (PR -15), which seeks to add to
the mine's existing permit area about 1,520 acres of roadless National Forest land and
federal minerals and about 1,100 acres of private surface and fee coal.
Approving this permit revision is not in the public interest because it would destroy
and degrade roadless forest directly adjacent to the West Elk Wilderness, and because
it would prolong the operation of the West Elk coal mine, which has been the largest
single industrial source of methane pollution in Colorado for many years. This area is
dear to me, I spend weeks every spring, summer and fall exploring wilderness around
Crested Butte. Also the area is invaluable as wildlife habitat, being intermediate in
elevation. I have backpacked around the area quite often and see elk down in all the
aspen forest even on the hottest days of summer, along with bears, birds, deer, big
cats and other small wildlife.
PR -15 violates Division regulations that require mining operations to "minimize
disturbances and adverse impacts of [mine] operations on fish, wildlife, and related
environmental values."
PR -15 fails to control and minimize air pollution, because the permit revision does
nothing to limit the climate impacts of methane pollution. The West Elk mine contains
no provisions to limit methane pollution, such as mandating the capture or flaring of
methane, although a recent State of Colorado report shows that flaring can be a safe
and reliable way to reduce coal mine climate pollution. It is time for us as a state,
nation and world to implement cleaner energy technologies.
Thank you for considering my comments, Holly Annala, 105 Goren Street, Crested Butte, Colorado
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