Laserfiche WebLink
• <br /> <br />• <br />MOUNTAIN COAL <br />COMPANYLLC. <br />A suevdiary of Nc" 'A'a~sm Reau'eea. LLC <br />March 3, ?000 <br />Ms. Susan Spear <br />Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre & <br />Gunnison National Forests <br />Paonia Ranger District <br />P.O. Box 1030 <br />Paonia, CO 3123 <br />RECEIVED <br />MAR C 4 2002 West Elk iVfine <br />P 0 Boz 59! <br />Division of Minerals and Geology s I %+ HlQhw~y IJJ <br />Somcrs¢ C0 3117+ <br />(9%0)929-1015 <br />Fsz (9.0) 929.5595 <br />FlL~ED <br />= 7 <br />RE: Thermal Event; Mountain Coal Company, L.L.C.; West Elk iVline <br />Dear Sue: <br />As you are awaze ~ICC experienced higher-than-normal carbon monoxide levels at the Lone <br />Pine Fan on January 23, ?000. The mine was evacuated and has been idled since that time. ~b'e <br />have been investigating the cause of the unusual readings. which has involved drilling holes into <br />the area that is suspecred. <br />As we are Betting closer to narrowing down the source of the combustion, we aze now planning <br />how to extinguish the combustion. The process of extinguishing the combustion could be a two <br />step process. The first step will be to construct new seals (barriers) in the mine from the surface. <br />If that does not suffocate the combustion, then the second step would be to pump water into the <br />combustion area, which will be contained by the construction of the new seals. <br />ivfCC is working with Halliburton, a company who has expertise in the construction of these <br />types of barriers. The material used is foam cement, which is different from concrete in [hat it <br />contains no ag~rega[e, and has less compression strength. i/ICC expects that one or more of the <br />holes that have been drilled (including the two holes that will be drilled next) can be utilized to <br />pump the cemen[ to form the new seals. However, as MCC has not yet determined the source of <br />the combustion iV[CC is not sure which holes will be utilized and how manv seals will need to be <br />constructed. At this time, iviCC expects that approximately six to eight seals will need to be <br />constructed. [n any case. the following describes the opera ion tha[ will be utilized by <br />Halliburton. <br />Hallibunon will begin setting upon the Refuse Pile Expansion (RPE) a[ the West Elk :~(ine later <br />today (March 3rd) for batch testing of [he foam cement, which will begin on Sunday, ivlazch S". <br />Following conclusion of batch testing, the equipment used will be moved From the mine site to <br />the Minnesota Creek area. In the meantime, a i0-ton bulk cement bin will be placed at the <br />corrals at the tum-off to ivlinnesota Reservoir. Tractor-trailer transports will deliver dry, bulk <br />cement to the bin from Grand Junction. Halliburton will then utilize two large trucks (?~ ton <br />loads) that will deliver the drj cement From the bulk bin at the corrals to three storase bins <br />