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STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman S[., Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone: (303) 8663567 <br />FAX: (303) 832A106 <br />November 14, 2005 <br />Tom Spe7ze <br />SW Regional Wildlife Manager <br />Colorado Division of Wildlife <br />SW Regional Service Center <br />415 Turner Drive <br />Durango, CO 81303 <br />Re: King Coal Mine (Permit No. C-1981-035) <br />Technical Revision Application No. 9 (TR-9) <br />Revised Reclamation Plan and Update of Cost Estimate <br />Dear Mr. Spezze: <br />COLORADO <br />DIVISION O F <br />MINERALS <br />GEOLOGY <br />SECUNATION•NINING <br />SAFETT•SCIENCF <br />Bill ovens <br />Govcrrlor <br />Russell George <br />Exttutive DlfeCtOr <br />Ronald W. Canany <br />Division DireCar <br />Natural Rewunx Trustee <br />The operator of the King Coal Mine has submitted the above-referenced application to revise their mining permit. <br />This application contains proposed changes to the mine's reclamation plan on approximately l0 acres of land at the <br />mine. The 10-acre Vact is located in La Plata County, Colorado in NEI/4 Section 31 and NW l/4 Section 32, T35N- <br />Rl t W. Because the application proposes to alter the previously approved reclamation plan, we are requesting your <br />agency's evaluation of the proposal. Your comments and concerns relating to the adequacy of the proposed <br />reclamation seed mix and revegetation success standards as they relate to fish and wildlife considerations, including <br />potential impacts to threatened or endangered species, are requested. We request your evaluation of proposed woody <br />plant stocking levels, planting arrangements, and methods for mitigation of potential adverse impacts. <br />Proposed changes to the reclamation plan include elimination of the woody shrub density standard and elimination <br />of warm season grasses from the seed mix. Enclosed is a copy of the proposed seed mix and revegetation standards <br />(letter from Savage and Savage Environmental, dated October 31, 2005) and a copy of the existing seed mix and <br />standards that currently are in the mining permit. Please advise us if you require additional information. <br />Please note the following background information. The King Coal Mine is an underground coal mining operation <br />located approximately 7 miles southwest of Hesperus, Colorado. The location is shown on the Hesperus USGS 7.5 <br />minute Quadrangle map. The subject 10-acre tract of land is privately-owned and has been used for several decades <br />as the surface facilities area of the mine. The post-mining use of the tract will be as a shop area for a ranch, <br />rangeland, and wildlife habitat. <br />In order for us to comply with regulatory time frames, we request that comments be submitted within fifteen (IS) <br />days of this letter. If no comments are received by then, we will proceed on the assumption that you have no <br />concerns with, or objections to, the applicant's proposal. <br />Sincerely, <br />j ^~ /~.~ <br />Tom Kaldenbach <br />Environmental Protection Specialist <br />0f8ce of Office of Colorado <br />Mined Land Rxlamation Active and Inactive Mines Geological Survey <br />