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either the Black Diamond Strip Mine or the Canon Black Diamond Mine. The pile's <br />close proximity to the GEC Mine's tipple area does bring into question whether the pile <br />was used by GEC and reclaimed by either GEC or the Division; however, the fact that it <br />is not on any GEC map makes this unlikely. <br />The picture is further clouded because of the fact that there were no fewer than 11 active <br />mines in the E % of Section 24. Only one of these mines, GEC, was permitted post-law. <br />The area is dotted with coal piles of unknown origin. <br />One observation that leads me to believe that GEC's use and their (or the Division's) <br />reclamation of the pile may not be the case is that the pile does not appear to have been <br />constructed in accordance to any Rules or engineering practices. The pile is basically a <br />dump off of a small cliff that has been covered with very little material (approximately <br />one foot). Further, a comparison of the topographical map from Dr. Corley and Exhibit F <br />from the GEC permit clearly shows that this pile, although within the GEC permit <br />boundary, was not a part of the GEC permit (or disturbed azea). Since GEC is the only <br />mine that operated in the azea after 3 August 1977, it is the opinion of the Division that <br />the refuse pile is a pre-law feature. <br />It is cleaz that the pile is on fire or, at the very least, smoldering. There is a considerable <br />amount of vegetation in the vicinity of the refuse pile and, given the very dry climate of <br />the azea, it is my belief that a real danger of a surface fire does exist. Add to that the <br />areas somewhat remote location and the fact that there are numerous houses (and a new <br />subdivision being built in Section 13) in the area, the potential for a fairly major disaster <br />does exist. <br />cc: Dave Berry <br />Dave Bucknam <br />