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Mountain Coal Company <br />Weet Elk Mine <br />Poet Office Box 697 <br />Somerset, Colorado 87434 <br />Telephone 303 929.5015 <br />Fax 303 929-5595 <br />November 9, 1994 <br />Mr. & Mrs. Larry Mautz <br />1938 Highway 133 <br />Paonia, CO 81428 <br />Mr. & Mrs. Mautz: <br />RECEIVED `I <br />N0~ 14 1994 <br />Dlv'~sion of Mpe7ats & Geolo9Y <br />On October 28, 1994, you informed Mountain Coal Company (MCC) that the access road to your hunting <br />cabin in Section 20 up from Lone Pine Gulch was cracked, resulting in difficulties with vehicles traveling <br />up and down the road. MCC responded to this notification by inunediately contracting for the repairs of <br />the road. <br />You again notified MCC of similar and reportedly more significant cracks on the road late afternoon on <br />November 4, 1994. Repairs were offered at that time, but at your request, these repairs were not <br />perforned. <br />MCC has reviewed the potential causes of these cracks. The alignment of the road across the steep slope, <br />in conjunction with the unstable type of construction methods utilized, are common contributors of slope <br />--- - -'- -- creep and minorlandslide occurrences. Tn general, such occurrences create cracks"similar to those az you <br />have reported, and in some cases, even more significant damage. <br />Further review indicates current mining at West Elk is in close proximity to the reported cracks. <br />It is unclear, then, whether these cracks are the result of mining in this area. It would appear that the <br />cracks are primarily a result of the road location, slope characteristics, and construction methods, with <br />mining perhaps being a minor contributor. <br />With this uncertainty, MCC may seek a third party professional assessment of the cause of these cracks. If <br />the assessment rules out mining az a cause of these cracks, MCC will charge you for repairs MCC has, and <br />may, pay for. MCC will continue to be a responsible neighbor, and only wishes to point out that certain <br />responsibilities are MCC's, other responsibilities may be shared, and some responsibilities may not be ours <br />at all. <br />If you should have any questions or wish to participate in paying for this azsessment (which could be to <br />your benefit) pleaze contact me. <br />'rk-+' ~. <br />Phil G. Schmidt, P.E. <br />Engineering Manager <br />Mountain Coal Company <br />xc: Scot Anderson Kathy Welt <br />Gene DiClaudio Christine Johnston - CDMG <br /> <br />