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TI`IE CFIRON Vol. No. 1 12 No. 184, Trinidad, Colorado, Thursday, ~ Proposed Trinidad strip mine sparks controversy By COSETT'E HENRTTZE C-N Editor A proposed strip mining operation south of Trinidad in the vic'vtity of the old Engleville coal mine has sparked local conROVersy - with conflicting reports on the scope of the project, and a number of azea citizens and officials speaking out in opposi- tion to it. William Davis, owner of Rimrock Coal Company, cutten[ly has an ap- plication pending with the Colorado Division of Mine/Land Reclamation to surface strip mine in an area two miles southeast of Trinidad. The re- qucstcd pertni[ is far a 47.85 acre area, with disturbed acreage listed a[ 15.6 acres in the application. Davis told The Chronicle-News that he will be mining the outcrop- pings of the old Engleville Mine, which was in operation from the late i800s through 1935. "We're looking at a 200-600 foot outcrop which was not mined by CF&I because the metalurgical value of the coal was not sufficient [o their uses;' Davis said. He explained that his permit re- quest covers a five-year period, during which he projects recovery of IS0,000 tons of coal "I've estimated production at 30,000 tons a year, but I'm hoping I might speed that up to 50,000 ton, and thus complete the operation in three years time." Davis is negotiating sale of the coal either to paper mills in Texas and Arkansas, or to cement com- panies in Texas and Arizona. "All the coal in the Trinidad region has a very high ash content," he said. "Cement coi npanies will accept coat with up to IS% ash content, so I think this coal will be marketable to them." He plans to transport the coal by truck [o Trinidad, then ship i[ out of the area by rail. Opposition to the proposed strip mining operation is being led by Trinidad resident Gerald W. Mon- toya, who lives near the Engleville site. "I don't want to see the historic town of Engleville destroyed;' said Montoya, who also fears that Davis may later expand his strip mining operations to encompass more land south to Fisher's Peak. "Recorded deeds with the county show that he (Davis) owns over 300 acres -what is to stop him once he gets started?" Montoya asked Montoya recently began circulat- ing a public protest petition in Trinidad, and said that so far he has 450 signatures on the document, which reads, "I favor making Fisher's Peak an historic monument, and Engleville, Colorado -and favor prohibiting open strip mining on Fisher's Peak and in the Engleville area." Davis said his operation will not extend as far as the peak "We arc three miles north of Fisher's Peak, and that is as close as I will ever get." Saying he has been misquoted as stat- ing there is no historic value to Engleville, Davis said, "I certainly do not believe that. The area is full of history. What i was trying to explain is that as part of my pem»[ ap- plication, Ihad [o address the ques- tion of historic significance of the site 1 intend to mine. The Colorado His- torical Society documentation on Engleville stales that there aze insuf- ficient buildings still standing and materials an the site for it to qualify for registration as an historic site." He will be required to post bond against projected cos[ of reclamation of the area he strip mines. Davis said the Colorado Mine/Land Reclama- tion Bureau sets t_he amount of the bond at a level which will erlstue suf- ficient funds to reclaim the disturbed land. "I would expect the bond to be $1,000 an acre, maybe more," he said. Despite Davis' assurances, and his completion of the proper studies and paperwork required for obtaining a stale permit, local sentiment on the project is largely negative. While conceding that Davis has followed proper procedures and that Caulinucd on ^age g Romer wants Flats crimes made public By The Associated Press Gov. Roy Romer says (or the health and safety of Coloradans, Cedcral prosecutors should make public evidence of alleged environ- mental crimes at the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant -despite a grand jury investigation. Romer. speaking to Colorado tractor that runs Rocky Flats for the DOE, also this wcek applied pressure to Norton to release whatever evidence the government has sup- porting allegations that Rockwell employees at the plant illegally in- cinerated toxic waste and dumped toxic chemicals into streams that mn through the plant. The allegations CI el: to ct st In of c: ai v 7