REV88862 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Gla~o-~o~ ~~-~~v '~- until March 8, 2002 Dave Berry Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology 1313 Sherman St. Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 Dear Mr. Berry: ppinision of-Minerei$~51~~~9Y WSERC is a grassroots non-profit conservation organization based in Paonia, CO, and dedicated to protecting and enhancing the environment and quality of life in Delta County and Colorado's Western Slope. WSERC organized in 1977 and now has approximately 250 members. Impacts of the local coal industry on the Gunnison Forest ecosystem and local community aze of great concern to our membership and we have been deeply involved in coal issues since our inception. Most recently we have been working closely with the U.S. Forest Service and Mountain Coal Company as they complete analysis for the proposed methane drainage plan at the West Elk Mine. With regazds to this project, we have been committed to working collaboratively with the company to assure our concerns were addressed without negatively impacting their ability to mine coal in a timely fashion. After meeting this week with Phil Schmidt and Gene DiClaudio at Mountain Coal Company to discuss the progress of the analysis on this project, it became clear that the timelines required for public comment will likely pose a threat to the company's ability to stay on schedule. I am writing because Phil said he would be talking with you about the possibility of CDMG modifying their public comment timeframes. As the primary citizen's organization monitoring this project, we believe the public process suggested by the North Fork Coal Working Group and conducted by the USFS has been thorough and inclusive. Should the CDMG feel they are able to modify their public comment timeframes, WSERC would not object. _ _ - __ __ ,_ _ __ _ Please feel free to call me if you have any questions. Sincerely, ~-4< ~~ Taza Thomas, Director Box 1612, Paonia CO 81428 Phone & Fax 970/527-5307 wserc@wserc.org