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March 18, 1998 <br />Background <br />The New Pryor Strip Mine is a revoked, surface coal mining site located ~/z miles south of the <br />town of Pryor, Colorado in Huerfano County on Rouse Road. When it was operational, it mined <br />privately owned coal on privately owned surface. <br />The New Pryor Strip permit, brought to fruition by Viking Coal was permitted on November 9, <br />1982 when the bond was submitted. A transfer of the permit was received by the Division on <br />August 10, 1983 requesting American Fuels, Inc. as the new owner/operator. The transfer was <br />approved with the receipt of the replacement bond on September 22, 1983. <br />Operations cotnntenced and continued in compliance for approximately one year. In April 1984, <br />the mine received the first of many violations which went unabated for extended periods of time. <br />The mine went into temporary cessation in late 1984 mostly due to the numerous violations issued. <br />Patterns of Violations relating to hydrologic requirements and the refusal to submit performance <br />bonds for changes in the mining plan and operations led to a Show Cause Order being issued in <br />May, 1985. <br />In July, 1985, the Mined Land Reclamation Board suspended the mining permit for 30 days, <br />pending American Fuels obtaining additional funding for the required bond. In August, 1985, the <br />Division was informed the Union Indemnity Insurance Co., holder of the Division's performance <br />bond, was being liquidated by the State of New York. Numerous hearings, letters, and legal <br />actions resulted in American Fuels being forced into bankruptcy on February 25, 1986, leaving <br />the Division with the task of reclaiming the New Pryor Strip Mine without any bond money to <br />perform the work. <br />The Division's Inactive Mine Land program bid out the reclamation work for the New Pryor <br />Mine. Work to be performed included backfiliing and grading three pits to approximate original <br />contour and topsoiling and revegetating the disturbed area. The project was completed in October, <br />1991, at a cost of $61,900. <br />Risks to Public Health, Safety, and the Environment <br />Three earthen structures, Pond K and the Upper and Lower Ponds remain at this site. <br />With the excep[ion of a small earthen slump on the upper pond, all ponds appear to be stable. <br />None pose any risk to the public or the environment due to the remote location of these structures <br />and the sparsity of human habitation in the area. All highwalls from the pits have been <br />eliminated and no waste piles exist on site. The site as it exists today poses no known threats to <br />the public or the environment. <br />