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• <br />• <br /> <br />MOUNTAIN COAL <br />~' %COMPANYL.L.C. <br />A Subsidiary of Mh Weslem Resources. LLC <br />Mazch 14, 2000 <br />r~ <br />REc;t~ ~rtD <br />MAR ~ 4 700? <br />Division of Minerals and Geology <br />West Elk Mine <br />P 0 Box i91 <br />i 173 Highway 133 <br />SomerscC CO 8133) <br />(970)929•SOIi <br />Fax (970) 929-ii95 <br />Mr. Jim Burnell <br />Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />RE: Minor Revision No. 270 (Thermal Event); West Elk Mine; Permit No. C-80-007 <br />Dear Jim: <br />As you aze aware, Mountain Coal Company, L.L.C. (MCC) experienced higher-than-normal <br />cazbon monoxide levels at the Lone Pine Fan on January 28, 2000. The mine was evacuated and <br />has been idled since that time. We have been investigating the cause of the unusual readings, <br />which has included drilling holes into the suspected area. Monitoring of gases in the mine from <br />these drill holes indicates an azea that is producing the high carbon monoxide readings, most <br />likely from some low-level combustion of the remnant coal in the area. A plan has been <br />developed to remotely isolate this area and then pump water into the area to extinguish the <br />combustion. <br />This minor revision is intended to provide the location of the drill holes and roads and provide <br />additional information about the other activities that have been undertaken, although MCC has <br />been keeping the Division informed about our activities on an informal basis. Please recognize <br />that the information and plans contained in this letter represent the best available information at <br />[his time. <br />There are essentially three activities involved in locating and extinguishing the combustion: <br />drilling, sealing, and installing a water supply system. <br />Drilline <br />Since MCC detected the high carbon monoxide levels, l~ holes have been drilled in the vicinity <br />of the combustion area trying to determine the extent of the azea. The following table lists some <br />general information about each of the drill holes: <br />DRILL HOLE COMPLETED DIAMETER <br />(INCHES) DEPTH (FEET) <br />F 4 1290 <br />G 4 1301 <br />I 4 1285 <br />K 4 1202 <br />