GENERAL30394

• Permit No: C1981015
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 3/12/1998
• Doc Name: FRUITA NO 1 AND 2 COAL MINES FN C-81-015
• From: DMG
• To: LOS LAGOS RANCH
• Permit Index Doc Type: GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Department of Natural Rewurces
1313 Sherman 51., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
March 12, 1998
Mr. Alfred G. Hoyl
Los Lagos Ranch
P.O. Box 130
Rollinsville, Colorado 80474-0130
RE: Fruita No. 1 and No. 2 Coal Mines
File C-81-015
Deaz Mr. Hoy(:
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999
STATE OF COLORADO
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DEPARTMEN'T' OF
NATURAL
RESOURCES
Roy Romer
Gavemor
lames S. Lochhead
Executive DIrMO!
Michael B. long
Division Director
Mesa County Assessor Office records indicate that you own certain lands located north of Fruita,
in Mesa County, Colorado, within the NEI/4 Sec. 30, T8S, R101 W, 6th P.M., which were
disturbed by surface operations associated with [he Flvita No. 1 and No. 2 Coal Mines.
As you are awaze, the mines have not produced since 1980. The No. 1 Mine was reclaimed in
1984/1985, and the No. 2 Mine was reclaimed between 1989 and 199]. The reclamation bond
for the site was forfeited by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board in March, 1994,
following failure of the operator to abate an enforcement action issued by the Division of
Minerals and Geology (the Division).
The purpose of this letter is to advise you that, as a result of a flash flood event which occurred in
early August, 1997, the Division will be using a portion or al] of the remaining bond monies to
perform remedial reclamation on the site. The storm event washed out a segment of a permanent
upland diversion, resulting in extensive deposition of sediment and boulders within various
portions of the reclaimed area and along [he access road, and also caused significant gully
erosion on the No. 1 mine bench outslope, as well as portions of the road surface and 511
embankments.
As a result of damage caused by the flooding, we have reevaluated the reclamation plan and feel
that certain significant modifications are warranted. It would appeaz that from the standpoint of
long term stability, there would be little point in reestablishing the permanent diversion above the
No. 1 Mine bench. The diversion crosses an erosional chute above the mine, which receives
concentrated storm runoff from a lazge azea of steep, barren slopes. It would be only a matter of
time until flooding would once again wash out the diversion, should it be reestablished.
In order to minimize the recurrence of damage from future storms, we plan to construct drainage
channels to convey runoff across the reclaimed site in the approximate locations of flow paths