GENERAL55129

• Permit No: C1984067
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 10/17/2001
• Doc Name: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION COAL GULCH MINE
• From: DMG
• To: HOMESTEAD REALTY
• Permit Index Doc Type: RECLAMATION PROJECTS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
STATE OF CULUI~UO
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Departmen[o( Natural Resources
1313 Sherman SL, Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203 DIVISION O F
Phone: [phone] MINERAL $
FAX: [phone] &
GEOLOGY
October 17,2001 RECLAMATION
MINING•SAFETY
Bill Owens
Mr. Les VanDenBerg c°~e`"°'
Homestead Realt
}' Greg E. Walther
Ezecunve Director
835 Main Ave Michael B. Long
Suite 218 Division Director
Durango, CO 81301
RE: Request for Information
The Coal Gulch Mine
Deaz Mr. VanDenBerg:
Several weeks ago, you inquired as to the mined land reclamation work conducted by our Division
at the Coal Gulch Mine west of Durango, Colorado. We are replying to your request with this
letter. We sincerely apologize for the time it has taken to provide this response.
The Coal Program issued a mining and reclamation permit to Peerless Resources, Inc. in November
of 1985 (DMG Permit #C-84-067). Due to the company's subsequent record of non-compliance,
the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board revoked the company's permit in the fall of 1988.
The Boazd ordered the $140,000 reclamation bond forfeited in August, 1990.
In the fall of 1993, the Coal Program, in conjunction with our Division's Inactive Mines Program,
put out invitations for contractor bids for the reclamation of the Peerless Resources operation. The
objectives of the reclamation were to:
1. Backfil] as much of the exposed highwall from the old pit as money would allow;
2. Allow natural drainage from the existing gulches to pass through "French" drains at the foot
of each gulch;
3. Backfill exposed coal seams;
4. Topsoil and revegetate the disturbed site;
5. Insure adequate treatment for the acid mine drainage from the Victory portal.
The objectives of the Division were accomplished; however, due to the excessive size of the rocks
in the overburden spoil pile, not as much of the backfilling of the highwall was accomplished as
was desired. The majority of this reclamation work occurred in 1994.
In addition [o this work, our Inactive Mines Program had in 1985 previously reclaimed some
disturbances near the Coal Gulch Mine associated with abandoned historic coal mining operations.