2008-10-22_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981041

• Permit No: C1981041
• IBM Index Class Name: GENERAL DOCUMENTS
• Doc Date: 10/22/2008
• Doc Name: 2008 Coal Reclamation Award Nomination Memo
• From: Dan Mathews
• To: Sandy Brown
• Permit Index Doc Type: General Correspondence
• Email Name: SB1
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215 C O L O RA D O
Colorado 80203
Denver D t v t S t o N o f
,
Phone: [phone] RECLAMATION
FAX: [phone] MINING

SAFETY
DRMS INTERNAL MEMORANDUM
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor

DATE: Harris D. Sherman
October 23, 2008 Executive Director
TO: Sandy Brown Ronald W. Cattany
FROM: Dan Mathews Division Director
RE: 2008 Coal Reclamation Award Nomination Natural Resource Trustee
Roadside North and South Portal Mines (Permit C-1981-041)
Snowcap Coal Company, Inc., (Snowcap), is deserving of recognition for the 2008 CMA Excellence in
Reclamation Award for permitting and implementation of an alternative land use reclamation plan
involving a steep slope variance from approximate original contour. The plan allowed for retention of a
mine bench and various facilities to accommodate a commercial postmining land use. Implementation
of the plan included portal backfilling and highwall elimination, construction of a buried French drain
system to safely convey portal area seepage off the mine bench into stabilized permanent channels,
demolition of mine related facilities that were not needed for the postmining use, construction of a new
access road, and grading and seeding of areas that would not be actively used for commercial activities.
The project area is immediately adjacent to and visible from east-bound Interstate 70, in Debeque
Canyon, a few miles east of Palisade. Initial reclamation in the South Portals vicinity was conducted in
2002, but was limited largely to wash plant facilities removal and reclamation of waste pile slopes. The
final phase of reclamation was initiated in 2007 and completed in late 2007/early 2008. Reclamation has
resulted in a stable landscape, with the obvious remnants of a former coal mine/industrial site (portals,
stockpile facilities, processing plant, etc.) eliminated or significantly obscured.
The new landowner, a local fruit grower with orchards within a few miles of the location, is now using
the property for his large scale organic fruit operations. A former mine office on the lower (processing
plant) level has been renovated and converted to a roadside retail fruit stand that has operated for the last
two years, while an adjacent metal cafeteria/training building was converted to use for refrigerated fruit
storage. On the upper (mine bench) level, a former mine shop and warehouse is being used for
equipment and supply storage. Various graveled and paved locations are being used for additional
storage and parking areas.
In summary, the project resulted in successful clean-up and stabilization of a former mining site, and
through proper planning and implementation, allowed for retention of various existing facilities to
facilitate a commercial postmining land use. The project is worthy of the CMA Excellence in
Reclamation Award. Representative project photos are included on the following pages.
Office of Office of
Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines