REV103945

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 4/13/1995
• Doc Name: MINOR REVISION 152 WEST ELK MINE PN C-80-007
• From: DMG
• To: JIM PENDLETON
• Type & Sequence: MR152
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

III Illlllllllllllll
STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Department of Natural Resources
1 J 17 Sherman St., Room 715
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone' 1}0}(tl66 }567
FA%. (3031 832 8106
DATE: April 13, 1995
TO: Jim Pendleton //~
FROM: Christine Johnsto~
RE: Minor Revision No.t/''(/ 111//1"""5(( 1__2///; Aest Eik Mine;
Permit No. C-80-007
~~
DEPARTMENT OF
NATURAL
RESOURCES
Roy Romer
Governor
lames 5. Lochhead
Fxeculive Director
Michael & Long
Division Dvttlor
Well it wouldn't be spring without a slope failure at Mountain Coal
Company (MCCj. The latest has occurred under the main haul/access
road at the keystone wall, above the refuse pile. The road is
still passable using one lane. Envirocon describes the failure as
a rotational slump. The top of the slump starts in the middle of
the access road, and the base of the slump is about 40 feet below
the bottom of the keystone wall. A portion of the road dropped
about seven feet. The keystone wall is still intact.
Coincidentally, this portion of the road dropped a few inches last
year and the failure is above the recent repair they did involving
the spring at the refuse pile.
They are proposing to construct a series of french drains, a
perforated culvert, and a buttress made of coal refuse material.
I gave them preliminary approval for the construction due to the
severity of the problem, with the understanding that they may have
to start over depending on the outcome of your review. My concerns
are whether coal refuse is appropriate to use for the buttress and
whether the long term stability of the refuse pile can be ensured.
In addition to the drawings provided by Envirocon, I have asked
Kathy to provide us with a plan view map of the surface drainage,
as the 100-year ditch is located in this area, and a cross-section
of the buttress and the refuse pile at final configuration.
Please place the review of this repair plan before the review of
Minor Revision No. 151, which I gave to you on March 31, 1995.
Your prompt review will be appreciated, as MCC has started to
construct the buttress.
Please let me know if you have any questions or should require
additional information.
cc: David Berry
CEJ/007MR152