1988-06-20_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981017

• Permit No: C1981017
• IBM Index Class Name: GENERAL DOCUMENTS
• Doc Date: 6/20/1988
• Doc Name: Bid Documents ‎(IMP)‎
• Permit Index Doc Type: General Correspondence
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

OT- "C STATE OF COLORADO
Roy Romer, Governor
1876
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
MINED LAND RECLAMATION DIVISION
FRED R. BANTA, Director 7
April 28, 1988
Mr. Robert Hagen, Director
Albuquerque Field Office
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
625 Silver Avenue, SW
Suite 310
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102
Re: Coal Basin Mines, C-017-81 , TDN X-88-02-244-2 TV 1
Dear Mr. Hagen:
The Division has received the above-referenced Ten-Day Notice (TDN) and has
the following response. The practice of snow pushing over the upper bench of
the Sutey Refuse Pile was approved by the Division. The present plan was
submitted in response to our requirement for a drainage plan on the pile after
a facial failure occurred in October of 1986 due to heavy rainfall . The
resulting NOV and plan are enclosed.
The Division finds that no violation has occurred due in part to the approval
but mainly due to the fact that the plan appears to be working properly to
route drainage off the pile. During the inspection of the week of April 18th,
our inspector, Candace Thompson, noted while walking the bench that drainage
of the upper bench was occurring. No appreciable ponding was noted. During
the same inspection, an NOV was written for failure to place refuse in a
controlled manner, specifically, the point at which the refuse dumped off the
conveyor had been excavated in preparation for future construction, creating a
situation whereby the wet refuse and runoff resulting from a snowstorm could
not be controlled. The newly dumped refuse was moving down the conveyor
access road in an uncontrolled manner. This flow had blocked the lower
portion of the upper bench allowing ponding in this lower area. However, the
ponding was a result of a condition existing in the active rework area
separate from the bench. Without the existence of the NOV condition, no
ponding would have been occurring on the bench due to the steep grade of the
lower bench area.
Finally, no violation exists due to the fact that drainage has not been
directed over the outslope. The purpose of the plan is for snow to be pushed
over the front face so that drainage will occur along the bench and not down
the outslope of the refuse pile. If the snow is not removed it obstructs the
flow of drainage along the bench.
215 Centennial Building, 1313 Sherman Street Denver, Colorado 80203-2273 Tel.[phone]