Laserfiche WebLink
JAMES A. BECKWITH <br />DBMS PERMIT M-1996-076 / APPLICATION FOR TECHNICAL REVISION / PG. 2 <br />PSCo agreed to pay for both the easement surface and the sub -surface minerals which <br />Fontanari and WSF would not be allowed to excavate due to the easement. Mining operations <br />could not be reasonably conducted along the boundary of the easement and lateral support of the <br />easement is still required by law. The 3:1 slope that is commonly used during reclamation <br />efforts was used to determine the volume of saleable material encumbered by adjacent support of <br />the easement. The lateral support area, of course, is measured on a 3:1 ratio, with the outward <br />leg of the slope being measured by the depth of the excavation to reach the minerals. Calculation <br />of the sub -surface area to be encumbered, including the lateral support area, showed a loss of <br />99,286 cubic yards of saleable material. <br />To determine the depth of expected excavation, WSF contracted with a third party to <br />make 4" bores at spaced intervals along the route of the widened easement area. Each bore <br />would reach down to sandstone, with the overburden above the sandstone being the basaltic <br />minerals to be eventually excavated. The driller then observed the cuttings; determined the <br />depth to sandstone; recorded the necessary data; and then moved to the next bore. After <br />completion, each 4" core was then filled with dirt and grout and the surface reclaimed. Today, <br />there is no visual evidence on the surface showing the locations of the various bores in Tract #70. <br />PSCo has successfully installed its new poles in Line #1, and disced the areas along the <br />widened easement. WSF, as the permit holder, has not, to date, conducted any mining along the <br />course of the widened easement or within the lateral support area. <br />On January 18, 2017, DRMS performed a physical inspection of Tract #70. It is noted <br />that DRMS determined Fontanari's boring was related to the assessment for the PSCo easement <br />and not for actual mining, mining exploration or future mining activities. The DRMS Inspection <br />Report directed WSF to file its application for a technical revision. <br />GOVERNING RULES <br />Rule 1.1 (49), Mineral Rules defines a "technical revision" as a change in the permit <br />which does not have more than a minor effect upon the approved or proposed Reclamation Plan. <br />WSF believes the boring certainly meet these standards. <br />SUPPORTING DATA <br />Bore Size, Depth and Surface Condition: Actual surface disturbance at each Tract #70 <br />bore site was only 4 inches. Photographs of the Line #1 Easement taken on January 18, 2017, <br />and incorporated into the Inspection Report (I/20/17) do not show visible craters, depressions or <br />even the bore holes themselves. After pole installation, PSCo has disced the ground along the <br />easement area: effectively obliterating surface evidence of the bores. Locations and depths of <br />the bores on Tract #70 were: <br />Coordinates <br />Name <br />Altitude <br />Depth <br />64828.491, 162825.906 <br />DH -1N <br />5045.02 <br />13 ft. <br />64721.251, 162822.545 <br />DH -2N <br />5055.56 <br />20 <br />64472.873, 162841.166 <br />DH -3N <br />5069.78 <br />25 <br />64223.862, 162858.886 <br />DH -4N <br />5080.63 <br />19 <br />