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Steve Renner Report -Inactive Mine Program Bear Coal Mine Vicinity Underground Fire At the request of [he Coal Regulatory Program, the site the Bear Coal Mine property, located immediately south east of the town of Somerset in Gunnison County, was visited on October 27, 2003, at approximately 12:00 pm. Correspondence received from the Coal Program indicated that personnel at a nearby mine had seen smoke or steam venting from the vicinity of the Bear Mine, and that Coal Program personnel had smelled combusting coal during inspections of the site. To facilitate site evaluation, a digital image was provided. The image depicted the approximate locations ofthe Bear Number 3 adit, C Seam outcrop, Edwards C Seam adit, and Edwards B seam adit. A number of reclaimed benches or roads traverse the side of a steep hill located south of an abandoned building. The benches are interrupted to the west by a landslide mass. The site inspection began along the middle, or intermediate, bench. An area that appeared to be an old mine entry, presumably the Edwards B seam adit, was observed. Numerous structural remnants were found in this area. The shape of the ground in this location, combined with the structural remnants suggested that this was an abandoned and collapsed mine entry, presumably the Edwazds B seam entry. A hand held infrared thermometer did not detect temperatures above ambient conditions at or near this location. The area located uphill of this collapse was also evaluated, but no indication of elevated temperatures was observed. Aground water discharge was observed slightly west and downhill of this presumably collapsed adit location. It is assumed that this is an abandoned mine discharge. No other ground water discharges were observed throughout the area. Working uphill and toward the east on portions of the road /bench system not disturbed by the landslide, the smell of combusting coal became apparent on the upper-most road /bench. Evaluation of the area revealed a vent (Feature 1) located at approximately 38° 55' 35"; 107° 27' 47". This vent is in the shape of a circular fracture pattem that measures approximately six to eight feet in diameter. The fracture itself is narrow, generally less than an inch wide, and never wider than two inches. The depth of the fracture is unknown. Ground surface temperatures around the perimeter of the fracture were measured at 100° on the east side, 350° on the south, 300° at the west side and 200° at the north side. The feature appears to be located in an area of backfill or possibly in relatively thick colluvial material. However, the feature appears to be on-strike with the trend of the upper bench backfill. Although venting fractures are common at inactive mine sites that have underground fires, a venting fracture [hat forms a continuous circulaz pattern has not been observed elsewhere. The pattem suggests that this area may be susceptible to a vertical or near vertical subsidence failure in the future. As a point of reference, a number of nearby structural remnants can be used to help locate the observed fire features. Two upright steel I-beams painted a blue green color are situated approximately forty-five fee[ west of Feature 1. Also, two expanded metal straps are attached to a sandstone outcrop approximately thirty five feet upslope of Feature I. Feature 2 is a small venting fracture measuring about eighteen inches in length, by about one inch wide. It is located approximately sixty-five feet south east of Feature I, and about fifteen feet downslope of [he same sandstone outcrop that the expanded metal straps are anchored in. The perimeter of the fracture is noticeably wet. Ground surface temperatures at this feature did not exceed 105°. Likely this feature emits noticeable steam during cold weather. Feature 3 is a large, active, triangular shaped vent. The vent, which is visible from Highway 133, is about four feet by two feet, and is open for approximately ten feet, as it slopes downward into the mountain. At about ten feet depth, the feature constricts to a tight vent. Creosote staining is apparent on the rocks within and immediately outside of the opening. Ground surface temperatures of about 200° were measured within the feature. This feature is located uphill of the sandstone outcrop [hat the expanded metal straps are attached to, and is immediately south of Feature 1, but about thirty feet higher in elevation. Many fractures are apparent on the slope between Features I and 3. These fractures, which are parallel with contour, are generally located at 38° 55' 35"; 107° 27' 47.1". These fractures are cold, not exhibiting temperamres above ambient conditions.