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are within Document 28) of May 1, 1981 was that displacement of monitoring monuments that
<br />occurred was likely due to frost action rather than mine subsidence. Reported in a subsidence report
<br />of July 7, 1981, was a total drop of 1.3 feet at one station, but this monument was outside the influence
<br />of (potential) subsidence, and movement was considered inconsequential. Reported in a subsidence
<br />report of March 31, 1982, was that no damage to the surface had occurred or would occur in the area
<br />of Curtis Creek due to the undermining design in [he Rienau 1i2 Mine Plan. Concluded in a subsidence
<br />report of April 13, 1982, was that movements were not indicative of subsidence. By letter of August
<br />30, 1982, Northern Coal Company advised the Division that "Monitoring programs recently modified
<br />in consultation with CMLR and CDH will continue" (only NPDES monitoring was required).
<br />Subsidence monitoring programs are described in the Permit (Page S-16; Exhibit S-5, Proposed
<br />Subsidence Monitoring Program, 4/14/81). However, as only advance room and pillar mining was
<br />proposed under the structures and features, subsidence was determined not to be an issue (Permit, Page
<br />S-6, July 2, 1984). A conclusion in the Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance, October 19,
<br />1984 (Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division) related to the Division's permit for the Meeker
<br />Area Mines was that no appreciable subsidence was projected to occur in previously mined areas due
<br />[o the limited extraction -high-support method of mining (room and pillar with at least 500 feet of
<br />overburden, with no retreat or longwall recovery). Appreciable subsidence was projected [o not occur.
<br />A conclusion in the Findings, 1990, was that the only subsidence monitoring performed and currently
<br />being performed was of portal backfills.
<br />No record of subsidence of, or reports of subsidence damage to, State Highway 13, electric power
<br />lines, the natural gas pipeline, or Curtis Creek was found in the Permit files. No adverse impacts
<br />appear to have manifested with regard to State Highway 13 (telephone call, January 20, 1998, Gene
<br />Violette, Colorado Department of Transportation), electric power lines (telephone call, January 20,
<br />1998, Dick Welle, White River Electric Association), the natural gas pipeline (telephone call of
<br />January 16. 1998, Steve Gibson, Public Service Company of Colorado) , or Curtis Creek. There has
<br />been no mining at the Meeker Area Mines for over ten years.
<br />16. Resolution of Comments and Other Reclamation Requirements
<br />Mr. Bill deVergie, Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW), expressed a desire (see Document 5) for
<br />a raptor protector on a power line pole (with transformers). The Applicant erected the raptor
<br />protector, and [he Division so advised CDOW (letter, 31 October 1997, copy a[ Document 29). Mr.
<br />Dick Welle, White River Electric Association, expressed a concern (see Document 5) over payment
<br />for retained power poles located on private property. These issues were determined by the Division
<br />to be outside the purview of the Application for the reclamation bond release. The Division identified
<br />removal of slope stability monuments at the Rienau b 2 mine site as a prerequisite to final bond release
<br />at the August 14, 1997 inspection, by letter of 21 August 1997 (Document 30), and monthly
<br />inspections of 23 October 1997 and 10 September 1997. The monuments had been removed as of the
<br />19 November 1997 inspection. The Division identified removal of scare-crow frames at the Northern
<br />J/ 1 and Disposal Area sites as a prerequisite to final bond release at the August 14, 1997 inspection,
<br />by letter of 21 August 1997 (Document 30) and the 10 September 1997 inspection. The scare-crow
<br />frames had been removed at the time of the 23 October 1997 inspection. The Division identified
<br />2 9 20 January 1998
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