2008-09-19_REVISION - C1980004 ‎(2)‎

• Permit No: C1980004
• IBM Index Class Name: REVISION
• Doc Date: 9/19/2008
• Doc Name: Review Letter
• From: DRMS
• To: OSM
• Type & Sequence: TR16
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

it.
DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
September 19, 2008
Mr. Carl Johnston
OSMRE
P.O. Box 46667
Denver, CO 80201-6667
STATE OF COLORADO
i
RE: CAM Mining LLC, McClane Canyon Mine (Permit No. C-1980-004)
Technical Revision No. 16 (TR-16)
New Coal Mine Waste Pile and Associated Facilities
Dear Mr. Johnston:
COLORADO
D I V I S 1 0 N O F
RECLAMATION
MINING
SAFETY
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
Hams D. Sherman
Executive Director
Ronald W. Cattany
Division Director
Natural Resource Trustee
In your letter dated February 7, 2008 the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and
Enforcement (OSM) identified Threatened and Endangered Species related concerns
associated with TR-16 with regard to the potential for increased pond evaporative losses
associated with the proposed new sediment pond, and possible impact of proposed new
disturbance on the threatened Uinta Basin hookless cactus (Sclerocactus glaucus).
CAM Mining LLC (CAM) responded to the concerns identified by the OSM and we
forwarded their responses to you on July 16, 2008. The operator submitted a new
Appendix "P" Water Consumption Estimate, which should address the OSM endangered
fish concern since the new water consumption estimate is less than previous
consultations. Their initial responses did not however address the concern regarding the
threatened cactus.
In a letter to the operator dated July 16, 2008, the Division again requested CAM to
address the concern raised in the OSM letter regarding potential impact to Sclerocactus
glaucus. We received a response from CAM on August 20, 2008. The operator
submitted a brief opinion letter addendum to Table 4.3-10, prepared by Rare Earth
Science, the consultant who prepared the 2006 Draft Biological Assessment for the
McClane Canyon Mine permit renewal. The opinion letter supports the conclusion of the
2006 report, namely that no impact would occur to the subject cactus species, due to lack
of documented occurrences within several miles of the mine and lack of suitable habitat
within the area of proposed disturbance (East Salt Creek terrace with dense big
sagebrush/greasewood shrubland vegetation).
Office of Office of
Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction . Durango Active and Inactive Mines