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death. <br /> Due to the oversteepening of the cliff face, it is merely a matter <br /> of time before the coal refuse and the underlying material will <br /> fail into Dutch Creek. It is difficult to predict the magnitude of <br /> the failure, however, a larger failure may create a dam within <br /> Dutch Creek. At a minimum, failure of the cliff face and the <br /> overlying coal refuse will significantly contribute to the total <br /> suspended solids loading within Dutch and Coal Creeks, and of the <br /> Crystal River. <br /> The Division proposes to remove the coal refuse from the area of <br /> the cliff which is experiencing failure. The cliff face will be <br /> reduced in order to minimize its potential for future failure. The <br /> estimated cost of accomplishing this project is $90,000. <br /> IMPACTS OF FAILURES <br /> A failure of either the Dutch Creek flume or of the Old Refuse Pile <br /> will cause degradation of the quality of adjacent creeks and of the <br /> Crystal River. The resultant degradation could pose public safety <br /> hazards, and could impact the local economy and the welfare of the <br /> general public. <br /> Degradation of the Crystal River will have direct negative impacts <br /> upon the community of Redstone. These negative impacts would be <br /> environmental as well as economic in nature. Redstone is partially <br /> dependent upon the tourist industry, which in turn is dependent <br /> upon the natural beauty of the area. The Crystal River derives its <br /> name from its clarity. If the Crystal were to flow muddy as a <br /> result of large failures at the Coal Basin Mine, it is possible <br /> that negative economic impacts would be felt in Redstone as tourism <br /> fluctuates. <br /> Further, the rapid introduction of large volumes of sediment to the <br /> Crystal River ecosystem would likely be very detrimental to its <br /> trout fishery. Some members of the public have alleged that the <br /> Crystal had experienced a declining fishery when the mine was <br /> operative. This was attributed to sediment delivery from the mine <br /> site. It has been reported that the Crystal carried coal fines as <br /> far as seventeen miles downstream following failure of a sediment <br /> pond system at the site in the late 1980's. It is assumed that the <br /> impacts of a failure of the flume or of the Old Refuse Pile would <br /> similarly impact the Crystal River. <br /> 3 <br />