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<br />INFORMATION ABOUT THE VIOLATION <br />RULE 5.04.3(1) <br />NOTICE OF VIOLATION NO. C-93-45 <br />SUBMITTED BY: ENERGY FUELS MINING CO. <br />on APRIL 30, 1993 <br />PERMIT C-82-055 <br />I. FACTS SURROUNDING THE VIOLATION: <br />Eoergy Fuels does not believe that the subject highwall failure is a significant hazard to the public <br />property, or a health and safety concern to the operation under permanent cessation. The effects to the <br />environment are limited to an area measuring 70 feet long by approximately 17 feet thick (rock slab). <br />The subject azea initially slabbed off a maximum of 12 feet thick during August, 1991 (approx. 235 <br />cu. yd. of material). Another 5 ft. Utick slab of the highwall sandstone has slowly slumped since September <br />1992, behind the original rockfall. Energy Fuels has monitored these conditions from their onset. The <br />OMLR has inpsected the site during the above dme period and has not documented any relevant concerns. <br />The subject rockfall ("highwall side") is limited to the 13 feet thick bench of sandstone overlying the <br />Upper Starkville seam, which is approximately 6 feet above the Raton Creek Mine portals in the Lower <br />Starkville seam. The length of the rockfall (70 feet) is contained io the area between two abandoned mine <br />portals of the Starkville mine (Colorado Fuel and Iron Corp.) developed between 1884 and 1921. The <br />rockfall (and adjacent rock slump) on the highwall are a direct result of subsidence as the abandoned <br />Starkville Mine portals gradually collapse. These aze not conditions that Energy Fuels can control as long <br />as the highwall remains exposed. <br />Energy Fuels has been concerned about stability of subject highwall area primarily from the stand <br />point of achieving stable reclamation after backfilling the portal azea. We intend to take whatever steps <br />possible, within economic and safety limitations, to minimize additional subsidence of the abandoned portals <br />during backfilling of the Animas Portal area. <br /> <br />