APPCOR10421

• Permit No: C1992079
• IBM Index Class Name: Application Correspondence
• Doc Date: 12/10/1992
• Doc Name: PERMITTING OF THE COAL GULCH MINE
• From: DMG
• To: PENNSYLVANIA WEST COAL CO
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Department of Natural Resources
1711 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: [phone]
FA%:[phone]
December 10, 1992
Mr. Paul Baker
Pennsylvania West Coal Company
777 Main Street, Suite 211
Durango, Colorado 81301
Re: Permitting of the Coal Gulch Mine
Dear Mr. Baker:
STATE OF COLORA-DO
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Ray Ramer
Governor
Michael B. Long
Division Director
I would like to take this opportunity to ascertain the intentions of Pennsylvania
West Coal Company in regard to permitting the abandoned Coal Gulch Mine. I would
also like to express to you our concern about the continued environmental hazards
associated with this site.
This mine site has been permitted twice
Arness-McGriffen Coal.Company and then b
revoked by the State of Colorado and the
companies failed to operate the mine in
Mining Reclamation Act.
in the past twelve years, first by the
y Peerless Resources. Both permits were
reclamation bonds forfeited as both
compliance with the Colorado Surface Coal
As we discussed with you and Mr. Purdy last spring, the Division of Minerals and
Geology is very concerned about the environmental stability of this abandoned site.
We are particularly concerned about sediment generation and migration to
Lightner Creek, the instability of the remaining highwall, acidic mine water
discharge and the maintenance of the Coal Gulch flow in the design channel. It was
for these environmental concerns that the State was prepared to utilize the
forfeited reclamation bonds this past summer to reclaim the site. My staff and I
had a number of phone conversations with yourself and Mr. Purdy regarding the
Colorado permitting process, and the States intention of reclaiming this site. At
the urging of both yourself and Mr. Purdy, the Division did not undertake this
project because we were assured that Pennsylvania West would remediate these.
problems through the permitting process and by initiating operations at this site.
It is my understanding that Pennsylvania West submitted an application to develop an
underground coal mine in July, 1992. The Division evaluated this submittal and found
it to be incomplete under the provisions of the Rules and Regulations for
Coai Mining. On three occasions since our incompleteness determination, we have
notified Pennsylvania West of the deficiencies in the material submitted.
An incomplete determination means that the minimally acceptable amount of
information needed to assess the mining and reclamation plans for compliance with
the Act has not been submitted. Therefore, we can not initiate the technical review
of the application until it is determined to be complete. At that time, the
Division will initiate the review process. We estimate that the review may take the
entire 120 days allowed by statute in order to fully address the technical issues
associated with this site and to incorporate the necessary public comment periods.