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Revised 11/85 <br />• Subsidence Monitoring Plan. The Bear Coal Company has been actively <br />involved in underground room and pillar mining in the Somerset, Colorado <br />area for over 50 years. Subsidence monitoring has been conducted at the <br />Bear No. 1 and No 2 Mines in the past and there are currently 11 <br />subsidence monitoring stations above the Bear No. 3 Mine workings. No <br />significant movement has been recorded to date. All monitoring results <br />at the Bear No. 3 Mine are submitted to the Division for review. The <br />results of subsidence monitoring will be inserted directly into the <br />permit document for public as well as agency review. <br />Bear Coal Company acknowledges the concern of the Division as to effects <br />of mining on the hydrologic balance, the surface as it pertains to <br />wildlife and vegetation, and existing known landslide areas. As one of <br />the stipulations to the Bear No. 3 Mine Permit, Bear Coal Company <br />initiated a subsidence monitoring plan as shown on the Geology/Hydrology <br />Map (Map 6). Subsidence monuments have been monitored for two (2) years <br />with no significant movement recorded. There are now two (2) additional <br />• stations located on the landslide material on the north facing slope <br />across from Somerset, Colorado, bringing the total number of subsidence <br />monuments to 11. <br />Bear Coal Company will work with the Division on additional subsidence <br />monitoring stations if the current monitoring plan indicates that there <br />is significant movement occurring. Existing monitoring over the active <br />mining area will provide the Division and Bear Coal Company valuable <br />data to show the significance of subsidence in the area. <br />Bear Coal Lompany has a vested interest in determining if underground <br />mining activities are having an effect on the ancient landslide areas <br />within the permit area and believes the current 11 subsidence monitoring <br />stations are adequate to monitor any significant movement. <br />The number of monitoring stations does not necessarily ensure safety or <br />confidence. The placement of a relatively few monitoring stations can <br />adequately record any significant movement. By reviewing the <br />Geology/Hydrology Map (Map 6), the area currently being mined is well <br />covered. <br />-28- <br />