GENERAL31288

• Permit No: C1981041
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 6/20/2003
• Doc Name: Post-Mining Land Use Change Issues
• From: DMG
• To: J.E. Stover & Associates
• Permit Index Doc Type: General Correspondence
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
June 20, 2003
Tonya Hammond
J.E. Stover & Associates
2768 Compass Drive, Suite 101
Grand Junction, CO 81506
RE: Snowcap Coal Company, Inc. Roadside Mine
Permit No. C-1981-041
Post-mining Land Use Change Issues
Dear Ms. Hammond:
DIVISION OF
MINERALS
GEOLOGY
RECLAMATION
MI NING•SAFETY
Bill Owens
Governor
Greg E. Walther
Executive Director
Ronald W. Cottony
Acting Division Director
I have given some additional thought to the issues we discussed at the meeting yesterday
with Jim Stover and Rudy Fontanari. Mr. Fontanari is interested in purchasing certain
parcels within the mine permit area south and east of I-70, including portions of the
disturbed area in the vicinity of the South Portal area mine bench, lower facilities area and
the RSRDA refuse area. As I understand it, his interest in these particular parcels is
predicated upon a revision of the approved post-mining land use of Fish and Wi/d/ife Habitat
to an alternative post-mining land use of /ndustiia/ or Commercia/. In order to accommodate
the land use change, a number of significant alterations to the approved reclamation plan
would be necessary. I am addressing these issues in a letter, to clarify the points I wanted
to make and cover some of the items in a little more detail.
Because the land use changes being contemplated would significantly alter the approved
reclamation plan, an application for a Permit Revision will be required. Under the regulations,
a Permit Revision entails the same timeframes and opportunities for public comment and
appeal as a new permit application. In the event that the land use change revision is
approved but is ultimately not implemented within a specified time frame, the Division
would require implementation of the originally approved reclamation plan for Fish and
Wi/d/ife Habitat post-mining land use. The reclamation bond retained by the Division must
be sufficient to cover implementation of the original reclamation plan, until the alternative
land use is implemented and the bond is released for the designated /ndustiia/ or
Commercia! land use areas. For these reasons, the revision application addressing the
proposed alternative land use and associated reclamation plan changes will need to be
submitted as a self contained package, that can be incorporated into the permit as a
separate volume, section, or tab. The alternative land use reclamation plan would be
inserted into the permit in addition to, rather than in replacement of, the currently approved
reclamation plan. Certain changes may also need to be made to permit Figure 14-1,
Reclamation Schedule, of the current reclamation plan, to accommodate time frames
associated with implementation of the alternative land use.
At the meeting, Mr. Fontanari expressed an interest in use of certain buildings and disturbed
areas in the vicinity of the South Portals for a commercial use, which I understand would
include storage and display of various rock product materials and associated equipment and
supplies. He specifically expressed interest in use of the lower level office and
cafeteria/training building, along with the warehouse and possibly the shop building on the
upper bench, as well as the existing access road to the upper bench. He also indicated an