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a great probability that a significant runoff event would irreparably damage reclaimed <br />areas at the site. <br />The channel suffers from damage caused by runoff events that have flowed through the <br />site since 2000. This damage, if not repaired, could lead to failure of the channel, likely <br />resulting in potentially catastrophic damage to surrounding reclaimed lands. <br />Other portions of the mine suffer the consequences of erosion as well. Some portions of <br />the steeply pitching reclaimed haul road are becoming gullied. These and other areas of <br />the site are in need of repair and maintenance in the near future in order that <br />environmental damage is not exacerbated. Most significantly, the sediment pond, <br />constructed within the channel of the flood -prone ephemeral drainage, is in danger of <br />breaching. Repairs to the pond embankment and spillway are necessary in order to <br />prevent a failure or uncontrolled over -top. Finally, some portions of the site are <br />inadequately vegetated. These areas can be better stabilized through a renewed seeding <br />effort. <br />The purpose of this grant proposal is to obtain funding sufficient to repair the channel, <br />reconstructing it to a more permanent condition, and to address the other environmental <br />and safety issues at the site. <br />Grant Proposal <br />The Inactive Mines Program and the Coal Regulatory Program have conducted a joint <br />inspection of the Fruita Mine. Together, we have identified the environmental issues at <br />the site that require remedial maintenance work. The grant proposal envisions <br />remediation of the environmental and safety issues at the site through a single <br />maintenance project. This project will address repair of the central drainage channel, <br />final disposition of the sediment retainage pond, stabilization of erosion damaged <br />reclaimed lands, and reseeding areas where vegetative cover is less than desirable. <br />Many of the tasks to be accomplished at the site are interrelated. Therefore, it makes <br />environmental and economic sense to address all of the site concerns during execution of <br />a single project. Some of the tasks to be accomplished during this project include the <br />following. <br />Central Channel Reconstruction <br />The channel has functioned well over the past seven years to convey water from above <br />the site safely past the steeper portions of the reclaimed area to the ephemeral channel <br />above the sediment pond. However the channel is experiencing some degree of <br />instability as a result of in- channel erosion. The project will stabilize those portions of <br />the channel that are failure prone in order to provide long term drainage control through <br />the mine site during flood events. <br />Sediment Pond Maintenance <br />The sediment retention pond was constructed within the margins of the ephemeral stream <br />which drains through the mine site. The pond is filling with sediment, apparently well <br />