GENERAL51158

• Permit No: C1996083
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 9/19/2006
• Doc Name: Letter Regarding Utility Bench Slide
• From: DRMS
• To: Bowie Resources, LLC
• Permit Index Doc Type: General Correspondence
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
September 19, 2006
Mr. William A. Beaz
Bowie Resources LLC
P.O. Box 483
Paonia, Colorado 81428
RE: Bowie No. 2 Mine, Permit No. C-96 X083, Bowie Resources LLC
Utility Bench Slide
Deaz Mr. Bear:
COLORADO
D 1 V 1 5 1 0 N O F
RECLAMATION
MINING
- sc-
SAFETY
Bill Owens
Governor
Russell George
Executive Director
Ronald W, Cattany
Division Director
Naturzl Resource Trustee
Inane-mail with accompanying digital images dated April 17, 2006, Bowie Resources LLC
(BRL) informed the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division) that a
small slide had occurred in the slope between the D-seam portal bench and the utility bench. The
Division appreciates the timely notification by Bowie Resources LLC (BRL) of the slide.
i
During the field inspection of August 23, 2006, the Division learned that remedial measures had
already been performed and that no further work on the slide area was anticipated by BRL. The
slide azea was backfilled and graded and the~azea was seeded and covered with erosion control
netting. However, a significant portion of the head scarp of the slide was still visible and a berm
had been constructed at the toe of the slide sb that rocks would not roll onto the adjacent access
road. The Division also learned that a fair amount of groundwater had been released along with
the slide. The location of the slide is important since the utility bench access road is at the base of
the slide. Also, further back cutting of the head scarp could eventually threaten the stability of the
western end of the utility bench.
The Division has concerns with several elements of the slide remediation work. First, the slide
head scarp is intrinsically unstable and needs to be eliminated. Second, the presence of
groundwater may have contributed to the slide but appazently was not dealt with in the
remediation work. Third, the berm at the toe of the slide may trap water at the base of the slide,
increasing the likelihood of additional slope failure. Fourth, there is no demonstration that the
remediation work is in compliance with permit commitments.
Therefore, the Division requests, under Rule 4.12(2), that BRL provide additional information
concerning this slide. The Division understands that the information would be approximate since
the slide has undergone remedial work. First, please provide a description of the slide itself,
including a) a sketch showing the plan and section views, b) the amount of displacement at the
head scarp, c) the approximate volume of the slide mass, d) the nature, whether cut, fill or
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Mined Land Reclamation Active and Inactive Mines