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STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY <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 />June 1, 2012 <br />Ron Thompson <br />New Elk Coal Company, LLC <br />122 West First Street <br />Trinidad, CO 80182 <br />Re: New Elk Mine (Permit No. C- 1981 -012) <br />Technical Revision No. 64 (TR -64) <br />Preliminary Adequacy Review <br />Dear Mr. Thompson: <br />COLORADO <br />Q I V I S I O N O F <br />RECLAMATION <br />MINING <br />SAFETY <br />John W. Hickenlooper <br />Governor <br />Mike King <br />Executive Director <br />Loretta E. Pineda <br />Director <br />The Division has completed a preliminary review of the TR -64 application and has the following comments. <br />1. Please provide a blasting plan for the proposed technical revision in accordance with Rule <br />2.05.3(6)(a). While the language of Rule 2.05.3(6)(a) suggests this blasting pertains to surface mines, <br />Rule 2.053(6)(a) is directly related to Rule 4.08 which has requirements that relate to underground <br />mines as well. <br />2. It is our understanding that a future railroad track or tracks will be constructed from Trinidad to New <br />Elk Mine within the next 12 to 18 months. According to the maps with the proposed technical <br />revision, it appears that the future railroad track(s) will run through the ventilation shaft and/or the <br />containment. Is this a map error? If this is not an error, how does NECC plan to address this with the <br />future railroad track(s)? <br />3. It is the Division's understanding that water collected in the contaimment area will be either pumped <br />or hauled to Pond 7. If the water is pumped from the containment area to Pond 7, will the required <br />piping system be permanent? If so, please provide an adjusted bond, permit pages and maps to <br />account for the permanent piping. <br />4. Please provide a description on how the proposed ventilation shaft will be lined to minimize <br />disturbance to the prevailing hydrologic balance in accordance with Rule 4.07. The Division feels <br />that shotcrete lining may not be adequate enough for long -term protection and suggests that concrete <br />lining be used. <br />5. It appears that ditch D26 flows into ditch D58. Please provide an explanation on how this is <br />accounted for in the design, including the size of the drainage area. <br />Office of Office of <br />Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines <br />