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Investigation into Continued Damage at the Solitario Ranch Page 2 <br /> <br /> <br />Scope of Work <br />The current assignment for Jim and Ann Tatum, the property owners, is to <br />observe the most recent damage to the house and ancillary facilities, and <br />determine if it is a continuation of the previous damage to their property. The <br />prior damage was caused by coal mine subsidence. This conclusion was reached by <br />engineering investigation and supported by a state court judgment. <br />Compensation <br />The hourly rate for engineering professional services is $75 per hour, the rate for <br />services as an expert is $150 per hour. <br />Site Observation <br />The investigation into the damage at this house has been ongoing since before <br />1994 and has continued to date. <br />The Tatum property is located in close proximity to the Golden Eagle Mine, <br />operated by Basin Resources. It is an underground coal mine utilizing room and <br />pillar and longwall mining methods. The mine has been closed and reclamation <br />work is nearly completed. <br />Underground excavation had been conducted within 350 feet to the south of the <br />house and within 2000 feet to the north of the house, according to maps and <br />surveys provided by the company, or available in public files. <br />The principal of Pioneer Engineering, Carlton Gerity made several trips to the <br />Tatum's Solitario ranch over the past several months to inspect continued damage <br />to the main house. The first was September 21, 2000, which coincided with a site <br />visit by OSM Specialist, Henry P. Austin. Mr. Austin was present to inspect the <br />house and to write a notice of violation to the State of Colorado concerning <br />subsidence damage to the house. The second visit was November 21, 2000, and the <br />ongoing damage was reviewed with Mr. Jim Tatum. The third visit was December <br />5 & 6 where the damage to the house was assessed with Basin Resources <br />representatives. This meeting was the result of a Notice of Violation that was <br />issued by the Colorado State Department of Mines and Geology to Basin <br />Resources for the continued damage to the house and waterline. <br />The current damage is entirely consistent with the previous damage, which was <br />caused by coal mine subsidence. This determination was made by professional <br />assessment; by Las Animas County District Court, and by the U.S. Department of <br />Interior, Board of land Appeals. <br />There are cracks in some of the same locations as was previously damaged, the <br />easterly and northerly sides of the house. There are cracks in the archway on the <br />first floor at the transition between the single story and two story sections of the <br />house. There are cracks in the downstairs office, bedrooms and dining room. There <br />is damage in new areas in the kitchen and garage. These are detailed in photos <br />taken by Mr Austin. There is also some evidence of some ground movement along <br />the railroad to the south of the house; a small tree has recently fallen down the <br />embankment along with several rocks. <br />In addition to the damage to the house, the main water supply line to the house <br />developed leaks that appeared to the south of the house, in the form of a spring in <br />the pasture. This phenomenon had never been observed before, and was first <br />