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STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone: (303) 866-3567 <br />FAX: (303) 832-8106 <br />November 5, 2004 <br />COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF <br />MINESRALS <br />GEOLOGY <br />RECLAMATION•MINING <br />EAFETY•SCIENCE <br />Bill Owens <br />Governor <br />Russell George <br />Brent Kerr Executive Director <br />United Companies ~ Ronald W. Canany <br />P.O. Box 3609 Division Director <br />Grand Junction, Colorado 81502 Natual Resource Trustee <br />,~ / •~ <br />RE.• Norwood Pit, -1988-037, TR-05, Change to Mining Plan To Address S/ope Mining, <br />Approva/. <br />Dear Mr. Kerr: <br />Staff has reviewed the Technical Revision (TR-05) to .the mining plan to address concerns <br />of highwall mining up to the permit boundaries at the Norwood Pit. United has proposed <br />staking an off set approximately 75 feet from the permit boundaries and from that point <br />mining at a 3:1 slope. The reason for the TR is to address a problem noted during the <br />Division's 8/17/01 and 8/30/04 inspections concerning the possible offsite damage <br />potential from 50 foot highwalls at the permit boundaries. <br />Staff is approving TR-05, which corrects the issues noted. Staff would also like to note to <br />the operator that this is the second time this issue has been raised. The noted highwalls <br />should be backfilled as soon as possible. If the highwalls slough outside the permit <br />boundaries, staff must consider it a disturbance outside the permit boundaries, which <br />would require a hearing in front of the board, civil penalties and corrective actions. <br />Considering the documentation of past concerns by staff, it probably would not be viewed <br />with much leniency by the board. It is in the operator's best interest to follow the plans as <br />approved to avoid this path. <br />If you need additional information, please contact me at the Division of Minerals and <br />Geology, Grand Junction Field Office, 101 S. 3rd St., Suite 301, Grand Junction, Colorado <br />81501, telephone no. 970.241.1 1 17. <br />Sincerely, <br />~~ <br />G. Russell Means%~~ <br />Environmental Protection Specialist <br />Office of Office of Colorado <br />