Laserfiche WebLink
<br />. • ~~~ I~~I~ <br />~~II~~ I~~ <br /> ~I <br />Mountain Coal Company <br /> <br />West Elk Mine ' ` <br />Post Office Box 591 <br />Somerset, Colorado 81434 " <br />Telephone 970 929-5015 <br />Fax 970 929-5595 <br />May 20, 1997 <br />Mr. Larry Mautz <br />1938 Highway 133 <br />Paonia, CO 81428 <br />Re: Repairs of Fence Line Damage <br />Deaz Larry: <br />Thank you for accompanying Henry Barbe and Rick Johnson yesterday to inspect some of the <br />landslide damage and possible subsidence activity occurring on your property on Jumbo <br />Mountain.. As you know, Jumbo Mountain is historically unstable and prone to slide activity. In <br />addition, a preliminary review of Mountain Coal Company's (MCC) mine map showed that <br />MCC's 9NW longwall panel does lie under your south fence line, as well as the "Muffler Rock" <br />feature on Jumbo Mountain. This feature appears to have been under-mined in the past month <br />and it is possible this under-mining may have contributed to the land movement you have <br />witnessed. <br />This land movement is certainly fascinating to see, but we would urge that some precautionary <br />steps need to be taken. As you have recently unloaded cattle at MCC's Lone Pine gate and will <br />soon be herding them up the mountain, temporary fencing may need to be constructed to prevent <br />the cattle from traveling across or grazing below this rock fall azea. This same fence could also <br />be posted with signs to wam your guests and others of the hazards that may exist in the area. <br />Although the majority of [he longwall panel under your south fence has been mined, any <br />subsidence or other land movement may not be yet complete. As you are aware, landslides have <br />historically occurred and are likely to occur, perhaps more quickly, in areas that have been <br />mined. As such, and given that it is likely that our spring-time wet weather will continue for a <br />while longer, this ground could continue to move for the next several months. In the meantime, <br />any necessary temporary repairs to your existing fence could be completed to contain your <br />livestock. MCC will continue to monitor the movement, and when land movement stabilizes, <br />any necessary further repairs or replacement could be completed. MCC is willing to provide you <br />with assistance in posting the area and making such repairs to the fence as may be needed <br />assuming the BLM approves of these actions. <br />David Berry of the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (CDMG) called MCC today and <br />said that CDMG's Michael Boulay is in the area conducting routine inspections and would like <br />to also inspect the rock fall and fence areas. He plans [o contact you some time in the morning to <br />