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Mountain Coal Company, LLC (MCC) submits the following project to be <br />considered for the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety's <br />Excellence in Reclamation Award. <br />INTRODUCTION, HISTORY and BACKGROUND <br />Mountain Coal Company, LLC, West Elk Mine, located near Somerset, Colorado, prides <br />itself in constructing, maintaining and promoting safe and environmentally responsible <br />mining operations and other activities. Part of the challenge in maintaining high <br />standards in environmental compliance has been in operating near and on former "pre- <br />law" coal mine sites. Such was the case for the old Bear No. 1 & 2 Mine site on MCC's <br />property, now the location of MCC's new sedimentation pond MB-5E. <br />Mining at this location was conducted by Bear Coal Company from about 1934 to 1982. <br />Soon after mining ceased, the portals were sealed, structures were demolished and the <br />site was regraded and seeded. MCC subsequently acquired the property for a future <br />stockpile or pond site. Except for occasional maintenance of a small residual <br />sedimentation pond, this site along the North Fork of the Gunnison River remained <br />dormant until MCC began construction of the new, larger sedimentation pond. Although <br />MCC anticipated that some remnant debris from the old mine site would be found during <br />excavation, there was more refuse, trash and rubble uncovered than expected. Instead of <br />pushing it aside, re-burying or leaving the materials in place, MCC directed the <br />construction contractor to remove all debris and refuse for appropriate disposal and then <br />properly reconstruct and reclaim the site. As such, MCC believes that the old Bear Mine <br />site clean-up, reclamation and reconfiguration project deserves particular recognition. <br />PROJECT DESCRIPTION <br />For nearly six weeks at the start of the pond construction project, MCC's contractor, <br />ConSy Construction, worked full-time to clean-up and prepare the old Bear No.I & <br />2 Mine site for the designed and approved ditch, road, bridge, and pond <br />construction. As the six acre footprint of the new pond area was cleared of <br />vegetation and initial excavation begun, the extent of the anthropogenic debris layer <br />beneath the surface and the coal and coal refuse within and around the old portal <br />areas grew more apparent. <br />As can be seen in the photos below, coal refuse and building material debris <br />comprised the bulk of the materials found and removed from the excavations. <br />Rusted steel pipes, cables, rebar, rails and beams were accumulated in piles. <br />Concrete foundations, as well as a septic tank were excavated, broken up and any <br />steel removed. Railroad ties, belting and some domestic trash, including an intact <br />egg carton, were also found. About 175 tons (or about 140 cubic yards) of trash and <br />debris were loaded into roll-off trash dumpsters and hauled to the local landfill. <br />Removing this material for proper disposal may have curtailed further contamination <br />of alluvial flows in the local water table. <br />Coal and coal refuse were found in excavations throughout the site and even on the <br />ground surface amongst the brush near the reclaimed portals. Where diversion ditches <br />2