INSPEC29939

• Permit No: C1981046
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Date: 4/27/2000
• Doc Name: COAL COMPLETE INSPECTION APRIL
• From: BYRON WALKER
• To: FILE
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

•
STATE •
OF iiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiii
COLORADO
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Department o(Natural Resources
1313 Sherman 51., Room 215
D I v 15 l o N O F
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone] MINERAL S
FAX: [phone] &
GEOLOGY

Interoffice MEMORANDUM RECLAMATION
MI NING•SAFETY
Bill Owens
to: Coal Complete Inspection File, April 2000 Governor
~~~..~
from: Byron G. Walker ~//I' - Greg E Watcher
Execulwe Director
subject: Status of the Artesian Well Michael B. Long

date: April 27, 2000 Division Director
During a joint inspection with OSM, the relationship of the artesian well east of the Sunlight
lower air portal (between the irrigation ditch and stream, a short distance downstream from the
flume and stream diversion headgate) and with the Sunlight Mine came under question. This is a
report of an investigation of the relationship.
Institutional memory (Erica Crosby, as an Environmental Protection Specialist) was that the well
was drilled by other than those associated with the mine, after the mine closed.
The 05/17/95 Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology Coal (Division) Inspection Report of
05/17/95, an aerial inspection (partial coal), includes the statement "Other -Several pieces of
equipment were noted on the site."
The 06/30/95 Division Coal Complete Inspection Report includes the statement "Hvdroloaic
Balance -An unmanned drill rig was found on site at the bank of four Mile Creek. It appears that
a well or borehole is in the process of being drilled. A small amount of water was shooting up
from the casing, and a pvc pipe was dischazging water to the creek diversion. No company name
or drilling permit appeared on the rig."
The 07/21/95 Division Coal Partial Inspection Report includes the statement "Hvdroloaic
Balance -The unmanned drill rig mentioned in the previous report was still present and still
unmanned. Nothing appears to have changed from [he previous month. Water was till leaking
from the casing and discharging through a PVC pipe to the creek diversion. The rig is located
beyond the flume, between the diversion and the creek."
The 08/29/95 Division Coal Partial Inspection Report includes the statements "Roads -Road
leading to [he lower fan has recently been cleazed of vegetation to allow access." and under
hydrologic balance "The recently installed well has been capped with a PVC Pipe. It appeazs that
water could be siphoned from the cap when needed. The standing water around the well has been
drained to the irrigation ditch. A PVC pipe has been installed to facilitate draining of this area."
The 09/19/95 Division Coal Complete Inspection Report includes, under hydrologic balance, the