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The site is located some five miles northwest of the Toupal pasture. This coal exploration hole encountered <br />significant water and methane during drilling. The appearance of the vegetation die-out and unusual soil <br />properties at this site were noted as strikingly similar to the Toupal pasture area. Full bond release was withheld <br />due to the Chavez site and the Division recommended to Basin Resources that both of these sites be <br />investigated for possible methane leaking to the surface. <br />The initial methane testing occurred on February 24, 1999. These results indicated methane in the soil profile in <br />areas of stressed or dead vegetation at both locations. Based on this testing soil methane monitors were <br />installed on March 24, 1999. <br />Agencies and parties involved in, or commenting on, the investigation <br />A significant number of State and Federal agencies as well as private parties and interests have been involved <br />in the investigation of this problem. The original citizen complaint was filed by the Spanish Peaks -Purgatoire <br />River Soil Conservation District. Two landowners, Mr. John Toupal and Mr. Floyd Chavez, have been directly <br />affected. Basin Resources Inc., permittee of the Golden Eagle mine, is responsible for the collection of the data <br />and reporting through their consultant Greystone Environmental Consultants. Geomet performed the sealing <br />and abandonment of the coal bed methane wells. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission was <br />involved in the ground reconnaissance and the abandonment of the coal bed methane wells in the Toupal <br />pasture. The Water Quality Control Division and the Environmental Protection agency have also been briefed <br />on the situation. The Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG) inspected the site on numerous occasions and <br />coordinated planned monitoring, as well as reviewed monitoring reports and data as it became available. <br />Photographic evidence was also collected by DMG and continues to be collected as conditions warrant. <br />Photographic evidence <br />No single photograph depicts the extent and the nature of the methane contamination better than an aerial <br />photograph taken by Harry Ranney of the Division of Minerals and Geology in May 2000, shown on the next <br />page. Due to the green up in vegetation, areas of dead vegetation are easily visible, both to the right (north) of <br />Highway 12 and left of the highway in the foreground. Blotches are also visible around well 28-11 located in the <br />Toupal pasture. The photograph looks west up the Purgatoire River Valley. <br />