1999-03-22_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981016

• Permit No: C1981016
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 3/22/1999
• Doc Name: PKA-1-476
• From: DRMS
• To: DRMS
• Permit Index Doc Type: Reclamation Projects
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF. COLORADODIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St.,Room 215
Denver,Colorado 80203
Phone:[phone] D I V I S I O N O F
FAX:[phone] M I N E RA L S
Date: March 22, 1999 &
GEOLOGY
RECLAMATION
MI NING•SAFETY
o: Dan Hernandez )
1
' Bill Owens
From: Jim PendletonGovernor
55nds�lide
Greg E.Walther
Executive Director
Re: Hawks . est Eas - Field Examination Observations Michael B.Long
Division Director
In response to your request, I visited the HawksNest East Mine's reclaimed surface facility area
on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 16, 1999. The Division forfeited the surety and reclaimed this
site over a decade ago.
A large pre-historic landslide has been active on this site throughout the twenty years I have
frequented the North Fork Valley. The landslide is a combination block glide and rotational
debris mass moving down slope from the sliding and toppling, ridge-forming sandstones up slope
to several tens of feet below the elevation of the roadway. This slide has progressively pushed
the alignment of old State Highway 133 down slope to the south towards the North Fork of the
Gunnison River. CDOT and Western Slope Carbon, Inc., repeatedly buttressed the toe of the
landslide with large massive debris in an attempt to retard it's down slope movement.
Since the closure and reclamation of the HawksNest Mine and the-construction of new State
Highway 133, old State Highway 133 has experienced drastically reduced traffic. The Sanborn
Mine uses the old highway to access its neighboring modern ventilation fan. It also uses the
access when unit trains are being loaded and obstruct its normal access. Local residents
occasionally use the old Highway. Frankly, until several years ago the landslide mass and the
adjacent down slope portion of the old Highway seemed to be drying and stabilizing. Last
week's examination discerned a significant rehydration of the landslide mass.. The increased
moisture is contributing to the general disintegration of the pavement and embankment of old
Highway 133 immediately down slope from the toe buttress of the landslide. Interestingly, the
landslide mass has not subsequently discretely failed. No obvious new failure plane is apparent.
However, the disruption and strain failure of the pavement and road embankment has increased.
The landslide buttress is seeping water, at an apparently recently increased rate and volume.
Immediately up slope of the landslide mass is a distinct "dimple", reminiscent of an old
excavation, such as a portal. Within and immediately down slope from this "portal-like pocket"
a lush cat-o-nine tail wetland thrives, covering an area approximately 20' x 15'. A lush wetland
of long-bladed grasses exists in the swale which drains this wetland around and down the slope
along the eastern boundary of the landslide mass. Based on the maturity of the vegetation and