GENERAL31617

• Permit No: C1981033
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 5/20/1986
• Doc Name: BEAR COAL CO LETTER SPRING 1986 LANDSLIDING PN C-81-003
• From: JIM PENDLETON
• To: RANDY PRICE
• Permit Index Doc Type: GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
David H. Getches, Executive Director
MINED LAND RECLAMATION DIVISION
DAVID C. SHELTON, Director
Richard D. Lamm
Governor
DATE:
T0:
FROM:
RE:
May 20, 1986
Randy Price
Jim Pendleton
BEAR COAL
(PERMIT ~.~
i ~%
- SPRING, 1986 LANDSLIDING
III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
999
I have reviewed the letter submitted by Bear Coal Company, dated May 14,1986.
Mr. Craig Hansen, Mine Engineer for Bear Coal Company, addresses the recent
landsliding at the Bear Mine No. 3. The company feels that the mechanism
which caused the reactivation of pre-existing landslide deposits involves;
1) "Pre-existing slides on relatively steep slopes".
2) "A generally wet weather cycle over the past three or four years".
3) "Warm mild weather in January and February removed the frost line
from the ground. This allowed spring rains and runoff to penetrate
more deeply into the old slides than usual".
4) "The additional moisture weakens the cohesive strength of the soils
and we see shallow slides and slumps".
Mr. Hansen proposes the following company response. In the short term the
company's geotechnical consultant, Rocky Mountain Geotechnical, Inc., is
analyzing the area and working on design of remedial measures to minimize
exposure of the Bear Mine workforce and surface facilities. This is certainly
appropriate. I believe it appropriate far the Division to impose a deadline
of June 30, 1986 on this design process. In addition, I believe it desirable
to affect remedial measures, if any are deemed appropriate, prior to the end
of the 1986 construction season, as mentioned in Mr. Hansen's letter.
In the long term the company proposes to deal with these landslides as though
they are entering their mine "...through a window in an existing landslide
area". The company further states; "We feel this is a normal landforming
process of nature and we cannot stop it but must learn to work around it."
The mine's exposure to landsliding activity is an unfortunate coincidence of
its location. However, Bear coal continues to be subject to the State and
Federal regulations. If the landsliding occurrence necessitates modifications
in the operations and reclamation plan for the Bear No. 3 Mine, appropriate
amendments should be completed. The Division must hold the company
responsible for any infractions which might occur, including noncompliance
related to landslide activity. Therefore, it is important that the
implications of the landsliding be determined for the plan and that
appropriate amendments be completed, if necessary. I recommend that we
require the operator to prepare an analysis of the long term mining and
reclamation plan implications of the landsliding, no later than September 30,
1986. If this analysis determines that plan revisions are necessary, we can
impose deadlines upon their submittal, as appropriate.
/dlm I d,it
~.~~en~~nil 7 t'iUl~tling, 1313 Sherman Street Denver, Colorado 80203 Tel. [phone]