1992-10-21_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981017 (3)

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J. S. Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration P 0 Box 25367 Denver, Colorado 80225-0367 Z r Coal Mine Safety and Health District 9 October 21, 1992 James B. Holden Attorney Holden and Jessop 303 East 17th Ave. , Suite 930 Denver, Colorado 80203 Re: Mid-continent Resources, Inc. Sealing Mine Portals Dear Mr. Holden: This will confirm our telephone conversation on October 16, 1992 , in which I expressed the Mine Safety and Health Administration's (MSHA) concern with Mid-Continent Resources, Inc. , lack of diligence and reasonable care to seal mine portals at their mining complex. Specifically, all portals at the L.S. Wood Mine (ID 05- 00300) and Coal Basin Mine (ID 05-02342) are not sealed. Title 30, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 75. 1711 sets forth the statutory provision requiring a coal mine to be sealed when permanently closed or abandoned for more than 90 days. MSHA issued Citation No. 3410979 on September 29, 1989, at the Coal Basin Mine for a violation of 30 CFR 75. 1711. Time was extended to correct this condition, but when little or no effort was made to abate the citation, 104 (b) Order No. 3586533 was issued July 8, 1991. In a subsequent follow-up inspection to the mine site on October 1, 1992, Mid-Continent Resources, Inc. , had continued their defiance to comply with the order which resulted in the issuance of a 104 (a) Citation No. 3852089. Similar enforcement actions have been taken at the L.S. Wood Mine. Citation No. 3410733 was issued on November 5, 1990, at the L.S. Wood mine for a violation of 30 CFR 75. 1711. Time was extended to correct this condition, but when little or no effort was made to abate the citation, 104 (b) Order No. 3586534 was issued January 8, 1991. In a subsequent follow-up inspection to the mine site on October 1, 1992 , Mid-Continent Resources, Inc. , had continued their defiance to comply with the order, which resulted in the issuance of a 104 (a) Citation No. 3852090. We are currently trying to get Mid-Continent Resources, Inc. , to submit a suitable sealing plan that the agency can approve for the Dutch Creek Mine (05-00301) . An October 6, 1992, letter from John Reeves, President, shows that this mine was abandoned effective Sunday, October 4, 1992.