UNITED STATES

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

This mining plan approval document is issued by the United States of America to:

Colowyo Coal Company L.P.

5731 Highway 13

Meeker, CO 81641

for a mining plan modification for Federal Leases COC29225 and COC29226 at the Colowyo 

Coal Mine. This mining plan approval supplements all previous mining plan approvals for the 

Colowyo Coal Mine. The approval is subject to the following conditions. Colowyo Coal 

Company, L.P. is hereinafter referred to as the operator.

l. Statutes and Regulations.--This mining plan approval is issued pursuant to Federal Leases

COC29225 and COC29226; the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended (30 U.S.C. 

181 et seq.); and in the case of acquired lands, the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired 

Lands of 1947, as amended (30 U.S.C. 351 et seq.). This mining plan approval is subject 

to all applicable laws and regulations of the Secretary of the Interior which are now or 

hereafter in force; and all such laws and regulations are made a part hereof. The operator 

shall comply with the provisions of the Federal Water Pollution and Control Act (33 

U.S.C 1251 et seq.), the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.), and other applicable 

federal laws.

2. This document approves the new mining plan modification for Federal Leases

COC29225 and COC29226 at the Colowyo Mine and authorizes coal development or 

mining operations on the Federal leases within the area of mining plan approval. This 

authorization expands the approved mining plan area into the following Federal coal 

lands.

Legal Description of COC29225

Township 3 North, Range 93 West, 6th P.M.

Section 5: S1⁄2 NE1⁄4, SE1⁄4;

lots 1, 2;

Section 7: NE1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4, SE1⁄4;

Section 8: S1⁄2SE1⁄4SE1⁄4, W1⁄2E1⁄2, W1⁄2;

Section 17: All;

Section 18: E1⁄2, E1⁄2SW1⁄4;

lots 3, 4.

Legal Description of COC29226

Township 3 North, Range 93 West, 6th P.M.

Section 19: E1⁄2, E1⁄2W1⁄2;

lots 1-3;

Section 20: N1⁄2, SW1⁄4, N1⁄2SE1⁄4, SW1⁄4SE1⁄4;
Mining Plan Modification for Federal Leases 

COC29225 & COC29226 at the Colowyo Coal Mine Page 2 of 2

lot 1; 

Section 21: N1⁄2, N1⁄2SW1⁄4, NW1⁄4SE1⁄4; 

TR 47 lots 6, 8; 

lots 1, 3, 5, 7, 10; 

Section 28: TR 47 lots 4, 5, 8, 12, 13, 15; 

lots 6, 24; 

Section 29: lots 2, 3, 13. 

These lands encompass approximately 4,118 surface acres at the South Taylor Pit. 

Federal coal acres are shown on the mining plan approval area map attached hereto as 

Attachment A.

3. The operator shall conduct coal development or mining operations only as described in 

the complete permit application approved by the Colorado Division of Reclamation, 

Mining and Safety, except as otherwise directed in the conditions of this mining plan 

approval. 

4. The operator shall comply with the terms and conditions of the leases, this mining plan 

approval, and the requirements of the Colorado Permit No. C-1981-019 issued under the 

Colorado State program, approved pursuant to the Surface Mining Control and 

Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.).

5. This mining plan approval shall be binding on any person conducting coal development 

or mining operations under the approved mining plan and shall remain in effect until 

superseded, canceled, or withdrawn.

6. If during mining operations unidentified prehistoric or historic resources are discovered, 

the operator shall ensure that the resources are not disturbed and shall notify the Colorado 

Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety and the Office of Surface Mining 

Reclamation and Enforcement. The operator shall take such actions as are required by

the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety in coordination with the Office 

of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. 

7. The Secretary retains jurisdiction to modify or cancel this approval, as required, on the 

basis of further consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service pursuant to section 7 

of the Endangered Species Act, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. 

8. Based on discussions with and concurrence from the Colowyo Coal Company, mining 

within Federal Coal Leases COC29225 and COC29226 at the Colowyo Coal Mine will

not exceed 4 million tons per year. 

Attachment