2013-10-24_REVISION - C1981041 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mike Boulay -2- October 21, 2013 concern in the past. SCC speculates that Mr. Fontanari prompted Warren F. Reams to write a October 19, 1995 letter to the mine operator asking about the same issue. By letter dated November 12, 1997, the mine operator responded to Mr. Reams. The mine operator stated it had heard Mr. Fontanari's story about mining outside of lease boundaries but found nothing to support his accusations. Notwithstanding the above discussion, Mr. Fontanari cannot in any way be adversely affected by this issue since it was not his coal that was allegedly mined. 3. Mr. Fontanari states hydrology has been adversely affected due to subsidence , and potentially an inadequate subsidence retention program. • Mr. Fontanari alleges irrigation canal grading /paths have moved over time necessitating routine, excessive maintenance of the irrigation canals. SCC - During the onsite meeting, Mr. Fontanari showed the group two areas where he believes subsidence has changed the gradient of irrigation canals. The irrigation canals were undermined in 1982 and 1983, over 30 years ago. Itis highly unlikely mine subsidence is the cause of the movement of the canal grading /paths. The upper Rapid Creek irrigation canal /pipeline traverses a bench cut with a near vertical cut slope. Mr. Fontanari points to cracks on the face of the near vertical cut as evidence of subsidence. The bench created by the near vertical cut appears to be side cast material with no compaction. It is far more likely changes to the grade of the subject irrigation canal is caused by inappropriate construction techniques. The lower Rapid Creek irrigation canal flows through a culvert under a county road. Mr. Fontanari explained that water backs up to a point where the county road is flooded before water will flow through the culvert. SCC surveyed the flow line of the canal and culvert to determine if sediment buildup was the cause of the problem. There are approximately 11" of sediment buildup at the outlet end of the 15" diameter culver. The attached Figure 1 shows a 1.5% ditch grade can be established downstream of the culvert with about 300 feet of ditch maintenance. Both of the areas of concern have been released from bond and are no longer within the permit boundary. Mr. Fontanari cannot be adversely affected by this issue since the irrigation canals are not within the permit boundary. • Mr. Fontanari alleges surface irrigation needs seem excessive, and it believed that surface water is unintentionally drained into subsurface subsidence features. SCC - The land Mr. Fontanari has tried to irrigate was acquired from Snowcap Coal Company in 2003. This small parcel of land is not part of the SL -8 bond release application. Therefore, Mr. Fontanari cannot be adversely affected by the bond release application. • Mr. Fontanari alleges water retention features (small ponds) lose water at a pace that is believed to be well in excess of standard evaporation /percolation. Queries regarding excessive water have come from the former subsurface mine operator. SCC - Mr. Fontanari cannot be adversely affected by small ponds losing excessive water since Mr. Fontanari does not own any small ponds.