HomeMy WebLinkAbout20260475 United States Department of the Interior
S40NT 0k H,.` °F SURFACE
�- -� �,. OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING o
Reclamation and Enforcement
: �, ;/Jg Western Region Office
\ J9. P.O.Box 25065q
?CH 9, Lakewood,CO 80225 NANO�'
�" '®'� RECEIVED �° �°
February 13,2026 FEB 2 5 2026
WELD COUNTY
Greetings: COMMISSIONERS
Each year the United States Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation
and Enforcement(OSM) and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources,Division of
Reclamation,Mining and Safety(DRMS)jointly evaluate DRMS's coal regulatory and inactive
mine reclamation programs as authorized under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation
Act(SMCRA). We determine how effectively DRMS's coal regulatory program ensures
contemporaneous and successful reclamation on active coal mines in Colorado and prevents
offsite impacts to lands and waters adjacent to coal mine permit areas. We also determine how
effectively the inactive mine reclamation program uses grant funding to safeguard and reclaim
public safety and environmental hazards related to historic mining operations in Colorado. Our
evaluation process includes the selection of specific coal regulatory and abandoned mine land
reclamation topics that address these criteria.
At the end of each evaluation year OSM reports on DRMS's implementation of these programs.
Our Annual Evaluation Reports can be accessed at the following website:
https://odocs.osmre.gov. The upcoming evaluation year runs from July 1,2026,through June 30,
2027.
We are requesting your comments on OSM's oversight of DRMS's coal regulatory and inactive
mine reclamation programs,recommendations for evaluation topics, input on protections for
historic and cultural resources under section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and
suggestions for improving future Annual Evaluation Reports. You may also discuss ideas and
concerns pertinent to the Colorado programs with OSM's Western Region Office in Lakewood.
Please contact us by March 30, 2026, with any input on our annual evaluation process or to
request discussions with OSM's Western Region Office.If you prefer to receive this annual
outreach letter by email,please let us know.
Sincerely,
Go t lk u n; co1/4..4,o.n s cc•.1L(x/M14)potcH(KH/c(/5g) 2026-0475
o3/o0(/26 03(05/26
Jason Musick
Coal Program Director
Division of Reclamation,Mining and Safety
1313 Sherman Street#215
Denver, Colorado 80203
jason.musick@state.co.us
(303) 866-3567 x8134
Jeff Graves
Director, Inactive Mine Reclamation Program
Division of Reclamation,Mining and Safety
1313 Sherman Street#215
Denver, Colorado 80203
jeff.gravesca,state.us.co
(303) 866-3567 x8122
Dan MacKinnon
AML&Regulatory Program Specialist
OSM-Denver Field Branch
P.O. Box 25065
Lakewood, Colorado 80225
dmackinnon@osmre.gov
Tom Medlin
AML Reclamation Specialist
OSM-Denver Field Division
P.O. Box 25065
Lakewood, Colorado 80225
tmedlin@osmre.gov
(720)245-5706
Hello