Laserfiche WebLink
One item concerning the mine office that arose during the field inspection was the question of right of <br />entry. If Oxbow Mining LLC is to retain the mine office as a residence, then BCC must provide a <br />demonstration to the Division that Oxbow Mining LLC has the right-of--entry to get to the residence. <br />This would involve right-of-entries for the use of the paved haul road leading from State Highway 133 <br />down to the mine site, the use of the bridge and, finally, the use of property owned by Arch Coal to get <br />to the Oxbow property and residence. Beaz Coal Company also mentioned that they own the property <br />at the top of the hill where the paved haul road meets State Highway 133. Representatives from Bear <br />Coal Company, Oxbow Mining LLC and Arch Coal Company stated during the field inspection that <br />this issue ofright-of--entry will be worked on among the three companies. During the inspection, the <br />Division requested that, once this issue is settled, Beaz Coal Company provide the Division with <br />written verification of the right-of--entry information in support of the limited residential land use. <br />The office building is currently in a state of significant disrepair and may not be in a condition suitable <br />for use or habitation. The Division further requests that Beaz Coal Company provide written <br />verification that Gunnison County approves the retention of the mine office and associated sewage <br />system for residential use and the retention of the paved haul road and bridge as support for the <br />residence. <br />An inspection of the access route to the Bear No. 3 Mine was made. The paved haul road was in good <br />condition. The guazd rail was installed on the outside edge of the road and was functional. However, <br />there was some debris on the inside edge of the road that had come from the slope above the road. <br />Reports from prior Division inspections of the site show that this is a periodic occurrence. The debris is <br />from the property adjacent to the paved haul road. At no time has the road ever been blocked with <br />debris. The Division does not see this as a problem for bond release. Finally, the bridge and bridge <br />abutments appeared to be stable. The riprap that had been placed against the bridge abutments for <br />protection against erosion of the river bank was still in place and appeazed to be functional. <br />The next subject for inspection was the backfilling and regrading work done at the mine site. The <br />facilities azea had been regraded to a relatively level configuration. No signs of coal waste, oil- <br />contaminated soil or mine debris were seen on this level area. The somewhat flat configuration blended <br />in with the adjacent river channel and supported the post mine land use of limited residential and <br />undeveloped land. A flood control berm along the northern and western perimeter of the mine site <br />protects the facilities from the North Fork of the Gunnison River. This berm is approved to remain in <br />place. <br />The inspection of the backfilling and regrading work on the portal bench area and on the access and <br />light use roads was next. Because this mine site had been mined and abandoned by other operators <br />prior to August 3, 1977, and then re-mined by BCC, the operator received a variance from approximate <br />original contour by backfilling with all of the reasonably available material. This is in accordance with <br />Rule 4.14.1(2). The pre-mine and post-mine cross sections are shown on certified Map 12 of the SL-03 <br />submittal. In spite of the limited volume of available material, the backfiiled profiles and contours <br />approximate the pre-mine profiles and contours. The backfilled areas generally blend in with the <br />surrounding land. <br />There were no signs of slope instability with the reclaimed portal access road, conveyor light use roads <br />or portal benches, although there were signs of backfilling instability with the Bear No. 3 Mine portals, <br />as discussed later in this report. However, there were about 10 pieces of rebaz sticking up out of the <br />ground that need to be removed, since it is a safety factor. They aze located west of the reclaimed <br />5 <br />