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MEMORANDUM, RE: POST MINING USES IN <br /> COAL BASIN, PITKIN COUNTY, COLORADO <br /> By Robert Delaney <br /> August 20, 1997 <br /> 1 . 0 History and Background. <br /> Between 1956 and 1991, Mid-Continent Resources, Inc . <br /> (MCR) mined and shipped approximately 22, 000, 000 tons high grade <br /> metallurgical coal to steel mills in California, Utah, Texas and <br /> Pacific Rim counties, including Korea and Japan. Coal was mined <br /> from five mines with portals at 10, 000 and 10, 500 feet and <br /> through twin adits extended from the surface approximately 15, 000 <br /> feet to intercept coal seams at depth. A network of about 15 <br /> miles of service and haulage roads to the mine portals was <br /> developed and used until activation of the twin adits . <br /> The coal was mechanically cleaned and dried at a plant <br /> located at the confluence of Coal Creek and Dutch Creek. <br /> Extensive additional structures were built and used including <br /> warehouses, automotive shops, bath house, offices, power lines, <br /> substations and numerous other facilities . The coal was hauled <br /> on a paved road from the Preparation Plant to Redstone, and then <br /> on public highways to the Unit Train Loadout facility located one <br /> and one-half miles East of Carbondale. <br /> In the latter years of operation, approximately 400 <br /> miners were employed, with approximately 150 ancillary employees <br /> connected with haulage, supplies, construction and the like . <br /> The mines operated on federal and fee lands under <br /> Permit No. C-81-017 issued by the Mined Land Reclamation Division <br /> of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, federal coal <br /> leases issued by the Bureau of Land Management, and Special Use <br /> Permits for roads and surface areas on the national forest that <br /> were utilized in the mining operation. <br /> Reclamation was bonded to the MLRD, (now Division of <br /> Minerals and Geology, DMG) for $3 , 000 , 000 secured by real estate <br /> comprising primarily the Rock Dust Plant in Garfield County. <br /> Mining stopped in January, 1991 and reclamation on No. 5 Mine was <br />