INSPEC05477

• Permit No: C1981015
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Name: INSPECTION REPORT
• Inspection Date: 12/31/1996
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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Brief History of Mine Site:
The Fruita No. 1 and No. 2 Coal Mine is a revoked, underground coal
mining site located on privately owned surface on the southern face
of the Bookcliffs, approximately 12 miles north of Fruita, in
northern Mesa County. The Bookcliffs, composed of alternating
layers of sandstone and shale, rise steeply along the northern edge
of the Grand Valley. The area receives approximately 8 inches of
precipitation annually. Native vegetation is a mosaic of desert
shrub/grassland and sparse juniper woodland, with cheatgrass
abundant, particulary in more level areas where livestock have
concentrated. The site is accessed by Mesa County Road 18.
When the mine was operational in the late 1970's, privately owned
coal was mined from the upper, Cameo Seam (No. 1 Mine), and the
lower, Anchor Seam (NO. 2 Mine). A total of 11.6 acres were
disturbed at the mine site, including two portal bench/face-up
areas, an access road, sediment ponds, topsoil stockpiles, coal
storage area, and associated facilities. There has been no coal
production from the No. 1 Mine since 1978, and no production from
the No. 2 Mine since 1980. The No. 1 Mine was sealed in 1983, and
the portal area was backfilled, graded, and seeded in 1984/1985.
The No. 1 Mine was not regraded to approximate original contour,
and a highwall, flat bench area, and steep fill outslope remain.
The No. 2 Mine portals were sealed, surface facilities were
removed, and backfilling and grading of the entire disturbed area
was completed between 1989 and 1991. Areas other than the No. 1
Mine bench and highwall were returned to approximate original
contour. Graded areas, including the reclaimed No. 2 Mine and
associated facility areas, and the steep outslope of the No. 1 Mine
fill bench were hydroseeded in 1991.
Mining commenced at the Fruita No. 1 and 2 Mines prior to the
enactment of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act on
August 3, 1977. On 5/31/77, the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation
Division (now Division of Minerals and Geology), issued a Notice of
Intent to conduct prospecting at the Fruita Mines to Coal Fuels
Corporation. Construction of roads and development of Mine #1
benches began in the summer of 1977. Waste rock generated by bench
construction and portal face-up work was dumped over the edge of
the mine bench prior to August 3, 1977. Mine #1 was located in the
Cameo Seam, while Mine #2 was located in the stratigraphically
lower Anchor Seam. The #2 Mine went into operation in 1978, and
was placed in temporary cessation in 1980. The #1 Mine was placed
in temporary cessation in 1978, and was sealed in 1983 due to a
fire which developed in the mine entries due to spontaneous
combustion. Partial backfilling and reseeding of the #1 Mine bench
was completed in 1984 and 1985.
The property was taken over by Dorchester Colomine Joint Venture in
1978, and operations were conducted under interim program Permit
79-60/UG/C. No permanent program permit was ever issued.
In 1986 American Shield Coal Company became the operator and