Oxbow Mining Exploration at Oak Mesa

June 2013 Update

The Oxbow Coal Mine exploration project on Oak Mesa began in November of 2012, continued throughout the winter working  two 10 hour shifts per day in difficult weather conditions, and is now producing enough core samples that they can begin to evaluate the potential of the area. A good portion of the work has been conducted on properties conserved by Black Canyon Regional Land Trust, so we are very much involved in following the surface disturbance and follow-up reclamation activities of the project. Marta conducts on-site visits with both the affected landowners and project managers of Oxbow to make sure that the environmental disturbance is minimized following state and federal regulations.

The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety is the lead regulator for this project. Click on the web link below and use permit number X201222311 to see how the project is coming along. Oxbow Mines has to file numerous reports, keep a current bond, and be ready for drop-in inspections of the project. This web site is updated whenever new information comes in on the project and is a useful source to follow.  It even has pictures!

http://mining.state.co.us/Reports/MiningData/Pages/ImagedDocumentData.aspx

Current status of the project on our conserved lands as of late June 2013 is:  9  exploration pads have been built. 2 pads have been drilled and cored, then the pads recontoured, top soil replaced, native seed mix broadcast, and native brush limbs spread over the surface to protect from erosion. 3 pads have been drilled, but not cored, so are still "active" pads with no reclamation work done yet. 4 pads are in the process of reclamation.  Some have been recontoured, some have had top soil spread (photo below, left), but none have been seeded.  Waiting for either the summer monsoons to arrive, or fall moisture before broadcasting the native seed.  One of the pads that was reseeded last fall is showing good early growth on the native seed (photo below, right).

The Oxbow project manager has been very good to work with, making sure that any of our concerns were addressed and remedied. Black Canyon Regional Land Trust staff will continue to be regularly involved during this project to make sure the conservation values of the land are protected, and the disturbed sites are restored to original or better condition.

May 2011

On May 6, 2011 Oxbow Mining, LLC of Somerset, Colorado submitted an application to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to explore a coal deposit that sits below the area of Oak Mesa located in rural Delta County. In a roughly 6,000 acre area, the company plans to drill 43 exploration drillholes in an attempt to confirm the extent of deposited ore beneath the surface. However, within that area lie four separate private parcels of land all of which are encumbered by conservation easements held by the Black Canyon Regional Land Trust.

The proposed exploration imposes certain risks on the conservation values associated with the landscape. Depicted in the adjacent chart are notable conservation values that will face imminent disturbance if the proposed operation does in fact commence. In addition, under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the BLM was required to accept public comments addressing potential environmental impacts that would be caused by the exploration.

Throughout the month of October, the BCRLT staff researched and gathered data to compile a document that would address impacts to the conservation values caused by the drilling operation. On this page, we offer links to our comments, as well as other resources from parties showing concern about the project. We ask that if you were able to find this page, you take a moment to explore the provided links about the proposed exploration. If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please feel free to contact the BCRLT staff in regards to mining operation.

Information Resources:

• BCRLT Oak Mesa Comments
• Earth Justice Comments- Oak Mesa Explorationplan
• Oxbow Mining at Oak Mesa
• Merchant Herald Oxbow Article
• Federal Coal Exploration License Plan for Oak Mesa - submitted by Oxbow Mining