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151 Interior Dec. 286 <br />(Cite ae: 151 Interior Dec. 286, *295, 2000 WL 1740340, **7 (D.O.I.)) <br />Page 8 <br />(a "close and detailed inspection of the foundations for the eastern (two-story) <br />ortion of the house" because of "limited access." Id. at 2-3. In describing the <br />exterior of the house, he stated that "the south wall above the second story <br />level near the east end of the house was badly deteriorated from prolonged <br />lexposure to moisture. The deterioration corresponded with the interior damage we <br />noted within the upstairs sitting room." Id. at 3. <br />**8 By letter dated June 7, 1995, DMG responded to four separate letters it <br />~ad received from the Tatums in May 1995 regarding various aspects of the damage <br />Ito the Tatums' house and investigations thereof. Therein, DMG stated: <br />While it is true that we have observed evidence of movement of the upper <br />~alls in an outward motion, absolutely no evidence of movement of the foundation <br />of the home has been observed by any parties. Movement of the foundation is the <br />critical indicator of mine subsidence. Without evidence of movement of the <br />(foundation we can make no finding except that mine subsidence has not impacted <br />the home. Further we continue to believe that no subsidence related to the 1st <br />north mains has occurred. <br />On June 30, 1995, Dr. Craft released the report of his May 19, 1995, <br />iinspection. At pages 7-8 of that report, he concluded: <br />The Tatum building complex is well outside any potential mining-related <br />ubsidence influence--even when conservatively assuming that 75 percent of the <br />~oal had been extracted and only 11 percent of the overburden is hardrock <br />(Figures 3 and 4). With only 34 percent actual coal extraction, and 50 percent <br />~ctual hard rock, it is highly unlikely that any surface subsidence has occurred <br />over the 1 North entry. This conclusion is substantiated by two facts: 1) no <br />~ailroad repair has taken place over the 1 North entry within the zone of <br />expected maximum deformation other than normal maintenance; and 2) the <br />ubsidence monitoring over the similarly-configured 3 North entry shows no <br />easurable subsidence. Furthermore, if the building complex was being influenced <br />by mine related subsidence, the garage, patio, and concrete included in this <br />~rea would be damaged. The cracks in the house would be tension type, and, <br />herefore, wider at the base becoming narrow upwards. The water draining into <br />the 1 North entry is from the coal bearing stratigraphic interval. The <br />bverburden is *296 too consolidated to subside as a result of water withdrawal, <br />~nd since subsidence has not progressed upwards, there are no cracks that could <br />impact the shallow alluvial wells. <br />The most likely causes of the damage to the Tatum House are modifications to <br />~he structure, poor maintenance, and/or stress applied to the structure by soil <br />movement associated with dewatering by the trees during extended dry periods, in <br />combination with poor maintenance of the roof, which would allow water to enter <br />into the walls. An additional possible cause is the tree stump at the corner of <br />the fire place. It is possible that the roots are rotting and the ground is <br />osing support in this area causing movement of the foundation into the rotted <br />reas. This is also a part of the foundation that cannot be evaluated through <br />he crawl space under the house. <br />By memorandum dated July 17, 1995, the Acting Chief, Program Support Division, <br />Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center, OSM, forwarded to the Regional <br />Director, Western Regional Coordinating Center, OSM, a report of the findings of <br />Dr. Kewal Kohli, Mining Engineer, Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center, OSM, <br />Copr. ® West 2001 No Claim to Orig. U.S. Govt. Works <br />