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STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />137 3 Sherman St., Room 215 C O L O RA D O <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 D t v[ s t o N o r <br />Phone: (303) 8663567 MINERAL S <br /> <br />FAX: (303) 832-8106 <br />GEOLOGY <br /> 0.ECLANATION•NINING <br /> sAf ETY•[CIENCE <br />December 1, 2005 Bill Owens <br /> Govemw <br /> Russell George <br />Mr. Ryan Taylor &ec°eve Director <br />US Forest Service Ronald W. CatUny <br /> Division Director <br />P20ma Ranger D1strlet Natural Resource Trustee <br />P.O. Box 1030 <br />Paonia, CO 81428 <br />RE: November 15-16, 2005 Inspection of the West Elk Mine <br />Dear Mr. Havens: <br />As previously discussed, the Division of Minerals and Geology conducted an inspection of the West <br />Elk Mine on November 15-16, 2005. This inspection was conducted in response to a phone call we <br />received from Mountain Coal Company on Monday, November 14 2005. We were informed that as <br />a result of a rainstorm that occurred on Saturday, November 12, 2005, an amount of residual fire <br />suppression foam concentrate from empty barrels stored in a "lay-down azea" operated by the <br />company had reached the Dry Fork of Minnesota Creek. <br />Our inspection and subsequent investigation found that this "lay-down area" appeazs to be situated on <br />private land along what we understand to be US Forest Service Road 711. The general location of <br />the "lay-down area" is Section 31, T13S, R90W, in Gunnison County, Colorado. <br />Enclosed is a copy of our inspection report, as well as copy of a December 1 2005 letter from us to <br />Mountain Coal Company regazding how the company is to respond to us on this matter. Please <br />contact me if you have any questions or concerns. <br />Sincerely, <br />Daniel I. Hernandez <br />Senior Environmental Protection Specialist <br />Enclosures <br />Cc: David A. Berry, DMG Coal Program Manager <br />Tom Kaldenbach, DMG Environmental Protection Specialist <br />Office of Office of Colorado <br />Mined Land Reclamation Active and Inactive Mines Geological Survey <br />