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r'' <br />Pt~ENT OF TNF ' <br />,V' ~., <br />O F <br />N <br />~ a <br />a <br />~,ACH 3 ~0? <br />IN REPLY RLFER TO: <br />United States Department of the Interior <br />OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING <br />Reclamation and Enforcement <br />1949 Broadway, Suite 3320 <br />Denver, Colorado 80202-5733 <br />October 8, 2003 <br />DST ~ 4 2~~ <br />Mr. David Buckram <br />Colorado Inactive Mine Reclamation Program <br />Division of Minerals & Geology, <br />Colorado Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />Deaz Dave, <br />~E~~~~~~ <br />Division of Minerals and Geotcp <br />This letter is to summarize our findings regarding a burning coal waste pile neaz Canon City, <br />reported to OSM on October 7, 2003. On October 8, 2003, we discussed the reported problem <br />with Sandy Brown of Colorado DNR, George Patterson of Energy Fuels, and Dr. Corley, the <br />landowner: <br />According to Dr Corley, he has been aware of the burning pile for some time, and noticed the <br />flames from cracks about the first of October. He hand-shoveled material into the cracks. About <br />5 days later, he had Energy Fuels use their equipment to excavate and compact backfill into the <br />hottest azea. Energy Fuels reported that they filled and covered an approximate 30-foot by 40- <br />foot azea with on-site sandy loam. Dr Corley stated that he believes that the backfilling had <br />eliminated the immediate hazard. Therefore, OSM does not believe that the refuse qualifies as <br />an emergency. <br />In addition, there is a question whether the refuse qualifies as an AML feature. Dr Corley stated <br />t.~iat the source of the refuse is from the Corley Company wash plant (before 1973), but was <br />subsequently added to by Canyon Coal and GEC. He stated that the refuse was reclaimed by <br />GEC in the 1980s. <br />Dr. Corley expressed concern that the cause of the combustion of the refuse maybe due to the <br />steep side-slopes that were left when the pile was reclaimed. Reportedly, the sides of the <br />approximate 50-foot high and 200 to 300 foot long pile aze slumping, and smoke vents are <br />visible all along the top of the pile. Dr. Corley is concerned about future similaz fire events. <br />Sandy Brown reported that Energy Fuels had contacted her to confirm that they would not incur a <br />liability by helping Dr. Corley excavate the area. Both Dr. Corley and Energy Fuels reported that <br />the pile is above the abandoned Corley Company workings (not the GEC mine), and is not within <br />