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July 26, 2011 C-1981-017/Coal Basin Mines SB1 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Inspection Topic Summary <br />YNRVNA <br />NOTE: =Inspected =Not Inspected =Comments Noted =Violation Issued =Not Applicable <br />N - Air Resource Protection N - Roads <br />NAR <br /> - Availability of Records - Reclamation Success <br />RR <br /> - Backfill & Grading - Revegetation <br />RN <br /> - Excess Spoil and Dev. Waste - Subsidence <br />NAN <br /> - Explosives - Slides and Other Damage <br />NN <br /> - Fish & Wildlife - Support Facilities On-site <br />RN <br /> - Hydrologic Balance - Signs and Markers <br />NN <br /> - Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan - Support Facilities Not On-site <br />NN <br /> - Other - Special Categories Of Mining <br />NN <br /> - Processing Waste - Topsoil <br /> <br /> <br />COMMENTS <br />This was an inspection and informational tour of the Coal Basin Mine. Participants gathered near <br />the entrance gate. Weather was overcast and cool with intermittent rain. The inspection ended <br />close to three oclock when an intense rain storm came through the area. <br /> <br />All remaining funds for the reclamation and stabilization of the Coal Basin Mine will be <br />expended this summer. There is considerable community interest in the reclamation of this site. <br />Citizens are concerned about the erosive nature of the geology which generates sediment. <br />Reclamation that has occurred during the past 10-12 years has greatly reduced sediment <br />contribution from the mine site. <br /> <br />With the funding for reclamation ending, a number of organizations including Roaring Fork <br />Conservancy, Pitkin's Healthy Streams board, as well as Crystal Valley EPA, are seeking to <br />enlist all interested parties and agencies to develop and put into effect a comprehensive program <br />to continue stabilizing and improving the Coal Creek watershed to follow upon the work that the <br />State has done. A number of people participated in this inspection and they are listed on the <br />attached page. These individuals and organizations want to understand the reclamation that has <br />been done to get the benefit of knowledge and insight gained from years of reclamation work in <br />Coal Basin. <br /> <br />The inspection began with an explanation from Steve Renner of the reclamation work that has <br />been performed. Some of the reclamation has been re-disturbed by the private landowner in the <br />facilities area. A termination of jurisdiction decision was issued for those lands in 2007. <br /> <br />The group hiked up the main haul road, stopping at the lamp house. Steve explained the mine <br />water handling system to the group. Access beyond the lamp house is restricted to horses, <br />ATVs and walkers. Reseeded areas throughout the reclaimed mine are stabilized and look <br />good. <br /> <br />The natural channel of Dutch Creek has severely eroded beyond and outside of any mine surface <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 0 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 1 <br /> <br />25 <br />Page of <br /> <br /> <br />