2016-10-27_REVISION - C1981041 - Laserfiche WebLink

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JAMES A. BECKWITH LETTER TO BROCK BOWLES, CO DRMS / SNOWCAP COAL COMPANY RECLAMATION / PG. 13 intelligently adapted to the issue. Finally, rather than keeping Snowcap in charge of repairs, require Snowcap to deposit into trust, or deposit a bond, covering the present costs to repair the Martin Crawford Ditch; to level the surface depressions; to install surface crops and irrigation systems; and, to cover the future costs of repairing the subsurface fissures and cracks. Then, let the landowners be free of Snowcap Coal Company. A. Reservation of Rights to Submit Late -Filed Reports Given the time constraints imposed upon it, Fontanari is submitting as much technical data as it can assemble within the ten (10) days after publication of Snowcap's Plan. Other data will be received after the filing of this letter. Fontanari reserves the right to supplement this Response with the data as it is received. Copies of all data received and submitted will be given to Snowcap Coal Company. B. Repairs and Upgrades to the Irrigation System Fontanari has valuable water rights in Rapid Creek which will be lost if Fontanari cannot apply irrigation water to surface crops in Tracts 70 and 71. Specifically, Fontanari has an adjudicated right to 5.3 cfs, transmitted through the Martin Crawford Ditch as one element of his irrigation system. The irrigation system, however, has sustained damages from other subsidences (not addressed by Snowcap in its Plan) and needs improvement to be efficient in the delivery of water to the point of irrigation. Mr. David A. Fox, of Fox Engineering Solutions, has inspected the Fontanari lands and the Martin Crawford Ditch. Mr. Fox's recommendations, and costs estimates are contained in Appendix Q, attached. Mr. Fox's estimate of repairs is $409,000.00. Drip irrigation requires a water pond in order to provide sufficient pressure and volume. Thus, Carey Pond is now and will forever be a vital element of the irrigation system. Snowcap's proposal is simplistic: put a group cap on a hole. The proper upgrade (or "repair", as it were) is to line the Carey Pond with 60 mil. High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) material used in ponds in the oilfields. This requires: removal of overburden surrounding the pond; grading of proper bank angles; installation of a cushioning layer of silica sand or other material to avoid the HDPE liner from puncture by sharp rocks or soils; laying of the HDPE liner over the cushioning material; heat welding the joints of the HDPE material; and, overlapping the banks with the HDPE material. A specific estimate of costs to line the Carey Pond will be a late -filed support. Nonetheless, the experience of Mr. Beckwith (through oilfield clients) with such projects suggests a cost of $200,000 to line the Carey Pond to prevent — as requested by Snowcap — surface waters from entering the mine caverns.