_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981017 (294)

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CHALLENGE COST SHARE PROPOSAL COAL BASIN MINE RECLAMATION BACKGROUND The Coal Basin Mine was initially developed in the late 1800's as a small underground mine near the headwaters of Coal Creek. In the 1950's and 1960's the mine was reopened and expanded from a single mine to a five mine complex. Most of the five mines and associated fan entries were developed during this time. The five mines are situated throughout the upper portions of central Coal Basin at elevations of about 10,000 feet. Each mine is accessed by haul roads which have been constructed from the preparation plant area near the confluence of Coal and Dutch Creeks at elevation 8, 300 feet. Each of the Mine and fan entries, and the majority of the haul road system which provided access from the mines to the preparation plant, are located on Forest Service System lands. Typical construction techniques of the time included the dumping of development waste and coal reject over the edges of the mine and fan benches. This practice lead to the development of long, steep fill slopes below four of the mines, and below each of the fan entries. A typical fill slope is composed of down cast sandstone, shale and coal materials interspersed with mine debris. The fills are generally thin near the upper margins, and thicken as they progress downslope. Some of the fills are 900 feet in slope length, and most approach an angle of 1H:1V or steeper. Little, if any, vegetation is established on these slopes. These fills are collectively referred to as mine bench outslopes. Coal Basin receives 31 inches of annual precipitation, thus the relatively unstable outslopes tend to experience erosion. Sediment which is shed from the outslopes eventually migrates to Coal and Dutch Creeks. The Coal Basin Mine had operated under a Mining permit issued by the State of Colorado. During operations, sediment generation from the mine outslopes and from the haul road system had been identified as a major issue of concern by the State and by the Forest Service. The mine operator, Mid-Continent Resources, discontinued operations and filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. After the operating permit was revoked the Division of Minerals and Geology assumed responsibility for accomplishing reclamation in 1994 . Reclamation is being accomplished with proceeds generated through the bankruptcy process. Minerals and Geology is a secured creditor for $3 million to be provided in cash and services. To date this amount has not yet been realized. It is possible that the final amount disbursed may be insufficient to accomplish all of the reclamation objectives. The primary focus of the reclamation undertaken by Minerals and Geology is to minimize erosion and resultant sediment generation from the identified contributory sources: the mine bench outslopes