_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981017 (263)

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Introduction The Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology, Colorado Inactive Mine Reclamation Program, is proud to submit its reclamation efforts of an unstable coal refuse pile as a nomination for an Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Award in 2004. The reclamation work being nominated consists of two complimentary projects conducted at a refuse pile located in the high altitude country of western Colorado at an elevation of 8,100 feet. These two projects, the Huntsman and Bear Creek Projects, were conducted adjacent to each other on the same refuse pile. Due to the funding limitations and the vast number of projects accomplished annually by Colorado, the coal refuse pile was stabilized over the course of two construction seasons as two distinct projects. The cumulative results of the combined projects created a stable and useful landform that enhances slope stability while protecting adjacent water resources from the adverse impacts of coal refuse placement. The coal refuse piles were part of the historic Coal Basin area mines. Operated by John Cleveland Osgood of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company (CF&I), the Coal Basin Mines were known for their high-grade coking coal and the beehive coking ovens near Redstone. Redstone, known, as the "Ruby of the Rockies"was the model coal mining town and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Mining in the Coal Basin area spanned from the early 1900's through the 1990's. In the early 1990's the permitted underground coal mining complex at Coal Basin terminated operations, and subsequently filed for bankruptcy protection. The Colorado Inactive Mine Program using revoked bond monies reclaimed the Coal Basin Mine, which is the highest elevation coal mine in North America. These two projects, the Huntsman and Bear Creek Projects, were completed on abandoned or pre-Title V portions of a large coal refuse disposal facility. The combined Huntsman and Bear Creek projects are exemplary for several reasons: • Hazards Abated: The Huntsman and Bear Creek Projects were initiated to address issues that threatened public health and safety and environmental resources at the site. Reclamation work at the site eliminated unstable eroding slopes,which posed a potential flood hazard to Coal Creek, a significant regional tributary to the Crystal River. • Slope Stability: Reclamation operations relieved slope stresses that threatened to initiate a deep seated slope failure. Excavation and coal refuse removal at the Huntsman area was required to create the desired slope angle. The excavated material had to be transported from the area due to the proximity of Coal Creek to the toe of the refuse. This material was transported to a portion of the mine site being reclaimed by the Colorado Inactive Mines Program using the forfeited reclamation bond. This material was used to compliment the reclamation work at that area,while solving the problem of excess material disposal at the Huntsman area. • High Altitude Considerations: Because of the large amount of annual snowfall that can occur in the mountains of western Colorado, the annual rate of erosion is great. Experience gained during reclamation of nearby large refuse disposal facilities suggested that traditional methods of interrupting long slope lengths were counter 3