_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981017 ‎(212)‎

• Permit No: C1981017
• IBM Index Class Name: GENERAL DOCUMENTS
• Doc Name: Bid Documents ‎(IMP)‎ 2005 Correspondence
• 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 C O L O RA D O
Denver,Colorado 80203 D I M S I O N OF
Phone: [phone] MINERALS
FAX:[phone] GEOLOGY
RECLAMATION-MINING
SAFETY•SCI ENCE
February 23, 2005 Bill Owens
Governor
Mr. Bill Westbrook Russell George
Sopris Ranger District Executive Director
White River National Forest Ronald W.Catt
any Division Director
P.O. Box 309 Natural Resource Trustee
Carbondale, Colorado 81623
RE: Coal Basin Mine Reclamation
Dear Mr. Westbrook:
I wanted to take a moment and share with you some thoughts I have regarding the status
of reclamation at the Coal Basin Mine.
The Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology(Division)has been in the process of
reclaiming this once permitted coal mining operation since 1995. In the early 1990's, the
Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board revoked the operating permit, and forfeited the
reclamation bond. When the Board takes these actions, reclamation is implemented by
the Division. The Division uses the revoked reclamation bond to fund reclamation
construction. The Division has been quite successful in supplementing the reclamation
funds by acquiring grants and developing partnerships with many organizations,
including the White River National Forest, so that reclamation of the site achieves the
environmental and land use goals we have jointly established for the site.
The majority of the reclamation at Coal Basin has now been accomplished. I am pleased
with the results of our activities at the site. For the most part, the land forms created
during reclamation appear to be stable, with erosion and resultant sedimentation from
mining related facilities greatly reduced from pre-reclamation levels. By all indications,
our reclamation partners and the general public are also satisfied with the reclamation
process.
Our greatest concern at the site at this time is the extent of vegetative ground cover that
has become established. We would like to see the extent of cover expand beyond the
point to which it has become established thus far.
It has been my observation that vegetation establishes itself to a certain extent throughout
the reclaimed portions of the site, but that the potential for a greater extent of cover, and
the resultant potential for expanded erosion control and sediment retention, exists. My
Office of Office of Colorado