Laserfiche WebLink
Additional reclamation projects at the Coal Basin Mine were funded with grants provided by the <br />Colorado Water Quality Control Division Non -Point Source Program and the Office of Surface Mining <br />with funds from its Civil Penalty fund. Weed control on reclaimed areas was partially funded through a <br />weed control partnership the Division entered into with Pitkin County and the U.S. Forest Service. <br />Several areas at the Coal Basin Mine are designated 'pre -law' disturbances. Mining impacted areas <br />that were not disturbed by the permitted mining operation subsequent to August 3, 1977 are not <br />required to be reclaimed, or bonded by the mining company. These areas, known as "Pre -Law" <br />disturbances, were eligible to be reclaimed by the State using monies set aside by the Office of <br />Surface Mining for use by the Colorado Inactive Mines Reclamation Program. Eligible pre -law areas <br />included a refuse pile near Mine No. 5 (old CF &I Mine) and at two sections of the Old Refuse Pile. <br />IV. Reclamation Projects <br />The Division first began work at Coal Basin in the fall of 1994 when a contractor was hired to <br />maintain drainage ditches at the site in anticipation of spring runoff. Some amount of stormwater <br />management was also accomplished at various mine entry areas and at other site facilities. <br />Reclamation construction began in earnest during the summer of 1995, and was substantially <br />completed by the end of 2001. <br />Since the completion of the 2001 construction season, only two reclamation projects have been <br />undertaken at Coal Basin; one funded by the Colorado Inactive Mines Reclamation Program at a <br />pre -law coal refuse pile located near Mine 5, and one funded by a Non -Point Source grant using <br />forfeited bond money as a match. Excepting that work, construction at the site between 2002 and <br />2006 has consisted of maintenance activities. <br />All of the reclamation projects are summarized chronologically by year in the report "Summary Report <br />Coal Basin Mine Reclamation Projects," dated August 24, 2007. A copy of the full report is available <br />online at http: / /drmsweblink. state. co. us /drmsweblink /search.aspx ?dbid =0 or at the Division office <br />(address above). A summary of that report is provided here. <br />Structural Demolition and Facilities Reclamation <br />The mine site was heavily industrialized when the mine was active. The major facilities at the mine <br />included the warehouse, wash plant and facilities areas. Following closure of the mine, a structural <br />demolition company employed by Mid - Continent Resources removed all of the metallic debris from <br />7 <br />