APPCOR11469

• Permit No: C1981023
• IBM Index Class Name: Application Correspondence
• Doc Date: 7/8/1983
• From: MLRD
• To: WILBURN E HAMILTON
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

.. ~pF _CU~~~
~~ ~ ~ O~9\
H ~ 1/. ~ O
~~~ t ~ ' ) +
. ~ „_
X876
Ri~hd~0 D. Ldmm
Governor
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
D Monir Pascoe E.ecoime Dimm or
MINED LAND RECLAMATION DIVISION
DAVID C. SHELTO N, Director
-.~
M E M D R A N D U M
June 1983
T0: Gregg Squire
FRpM: Jim Pendleton
RE: "Stability of

ast Nighwall of the Chimney Rock Coal Mine"
I have reviewed the document referenced above. 'Th~.; report was
prepared by Fox Consultants, Inc., consultant to Chimney f.ock Coal
Company. The report presents the result of a geotechnica- investigation
of the southeast highwall at the f4artinez Strip mine. Th's highwall
adjoins Colorado Highway 151. The company proposes to aucier from this
hiyhwall up to the right-of-way boundary of the state hiyllway. The
Division imposed a stipulation, in response to Colorado Department of
Highway comment, requiring the operator to complete an examination of the
hiyhwall prior to the commencement of auyering activities The purpose
Hof this geotechnica) investigation was to discern any yeo'ogical factors
which might endanger the stability of the highway.
• Fox's report, prepared by Paul V. kosasco, conforms with the
prudent state-of-the-art of highwall stability analysis. It is thorough
and descriptive. Mr. Rosasco concludes; "... that the fr<Icture sets
currently exposed within their highwall do not contain any unstable
planar or wedge configurations for which failure could affect the
stability of Highway 151. In addition, the timely placemEnt to (of)
backfill in the pit against the final highwall should assLre that a large
massive failure affecting the highway stability should not occur in the
future."
It is my recommendation that we approve Chimney Rock's request to
proceed with their proposed augering within the northeastern third of the
highwall, with the following conditions:
(1) Approval of the report and augering is also yranted by the
Colorado Department of Highway District V Office;
(2) Placement of backfill within the pit occurs as immediately
following auyering completion as is possible; and
(3) Additional examination and analysis be completed, and Division
and Colorado Department of Highways approvals acquired, for the remaining
southeastern two thirds of the highwall, prior to the commencement of
augering within that additional area.
cc: Ed Bischoff
Document No: 3810E i
423 Centennial Building, 1313 Sherman Street Denver, Colorado 80203 Tel. [phone]