Laserfiche WebLink
• 04/26/94 15:21 V73t7J '177 0551 taro i yn jonnsurt <br /> CITIZENS COAL COUNCIL <br /> Restoring JuStlCe to the Coal Fields <br /> Western Office: 296 S. Gilpin St. <br /> Denver, CO 80209 <br /> 202/777-0557 Fax: Satre, Call First <br /> April 26, 1994 <br /> Sent by FAX on April 26. f994 <br /> Mr. Allen Klein, Assistant Director <br /> Office of Surface Mining <br /> 1951 Constitution Ave. NW <br /> Washington, DC 2.0240 <br /> Re: Enforcement and reclamation at the Coal Basin mine. <br /> Dear Al, <br /> On April 20, we met at the offices of the Colorado Division of Minerals and <br /> Geology regarding the Coal"Basin mine, formerly operated by Mid-Continent Resources. 1 <br /> appreciated the opportunity to learn how OSM and DMG are now approaching this horri- <br /> ble situation. CCC is hopeful that the land trade with the Forest Service can take place, ' <br /> but we are very disturbed at most of the approaches OSM is taking. <br /> Mid-Continent has declared bankruptcy, forfeited its woefully inadequate bond <br /> and lost its permit, but now its allied company - Pitkin iron - is managing the site. CCC <br /> strongly objects to OSM and DMG continuing to negotiate with or negotiating in the <br /> presence of any representative of Mid-Continent and Pitkin Iron on the type and cost of <br /> reclamation required. <br /> This letter lists our concerns, but I first want to address the enforcement issues <br /> raised at the meeting. <br /> $n forccmcnt. <br /> At the end of the meeting I asked Bob Hagen (AFC) Field Office Director) what enforce- <br /> ment action OSM had taken on DMG's inappropriate vacation of 13 Notices of Violation <br /> and Failure to Abate Cessation Orders several months ago. DMG had issued these NOVs <br /> and FTACOs iu response to OSM'S inspections and Ten Day Notices; citizens complaints <br /> had triggered some of these inspections and TTANs. <br /> You said you knew nothing about these but "Bob and 1 will get together and decide on the <br /> Ste enRaltbbugnof his <br /> staffu <br /> uhad been lookingaintonit but hesaid he hd set a odid not know where it to you a mouth ago stood <br /> t <br /> st od <br /> now. <br /> I took exception to your use of 'we' and said it was inappropriate for you or Bob to <br /> decide on the action because you would be interfering witb enforcement decisions, which <br /> neither of you are authorized or trained to make. [Also, 1 would add that neither of you <br /> were present during the inspections to see the site conditions.] l expressed concern that <br /> OSM-AFO had not yet taken any action and observed that many "hot potato" issues in <br /> AFO were being delayed until after Bob's retirement in two weeks. <br /> Both you and Bob stated that OSM-AFO would reverse OSM's initial findings that DMG <br /> 1 <br />