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Kurtis Blunt, Environmental Supervisor <br />July 3, 2012 <br />5731 Highway 13 <br />Meeker, Colorado 81641 <br />970 - 824 -1500 <br />Mr. Rob Zuber <br />Environmental Protection Specialist <br />Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />Dear Mr. Zuber, <br />970 - 824 -1531 <br />RE: Notification of grass/brush fire at Colowyo Coal Mine on June 30, 2012. Permit No. C- <br />1981 -019. <br />As per our phone conversation yesterday, please find the enclosed supporting materials that <br />describe the events and results of a grass/brush fire caused by high winds and subsequent power <br />pole failure that occurred on the evening of June 30, 2012. <br />At approximately 6:29 pm on June 30, 2012 Colowyo's Meteorological Station recorded wind <br />gusts up to 81.65 miles per hour. Within several minutes, Colowyo employees identified smoke <br />coming from the area immediately North of the mine access road West of the Lower <br />Administration building. <br />After securing the scene for the safety of our employees and the local responder crews including <br />BLM, Moffat County and Rio Blanco County resources, Colowyo supervisors immediately sent <br />heavy equipment to the Eastern and Western extents of the area actively burning and <br />constructed fire lines approximately 20 feet wide along a defendable perimeter. <br />The source of the fire was determined to be power lines contacting the ground due to a power <br />pole being snapped in half on the 25KV White River Electric Association line that runs parallel <br />with the mine access road on the North side of the road. This line provides power to the Gossard <br />Loadout Area and associated facilities. <br />Approximately 5 acres within Colowyo's permit boundary was affected by the moderate <br />intensity fire, comprised of a mix of wheatgrass and low density sagebrush. Additional surface <br />disturbances within the permit boundary were created as a result of the necessity to facilitate <br />replacement of the broken power pole, re- hanging of the lines, and access corridors on the <br />Western and Eastern side of the fire for construction of the fire lines. Approximately 26 <br />additional acres burned outside of Colowyo's permit boundary on Colowyo private property, <br />primarily in low density sagebrush rangeland. A few acres of inactive wheat fields were also <br />