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

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°F `°� STATE OF COLORADO
* r * Roy Romer, Governor
x 1876
� UVY
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
MINED LAND RECLAMATION DIVISION
FRED R. BANTA, Director
DATE: May 19, 1988
TO: Mike Long
FROM: Jim Pendleton
RE: OSMRF COAL ASTE P F OVERSIGHT TOUR
The oversight tour of coal waste piles is now complete. Bob Liddle spent
Monday, May 9th through Friday, May 12th and Monday, May 16th accompanying Lou
Hamm, Don Frickle, and Bernie Freeman of the OSMRE to Roadside/Cameo,
Deserado, Orchard Valley, Mt. Gunnison No. 1 , Coal Basin and New Elk Mines'
coal waste piles. Don Frickle was absent from the Coal Basin visit. I .joined
the group on May 9, May 12, and May 16 for visits to Roadside/Campo, Coai
Basin and New Elk Mine's waste piles.
The issues discussed fall into two major categories: (1 ) The sizing and/or
absence of diversion channels; and (2) the configuration and maintenance of
the waste piles. The first issue is mainly a permitting topic, and the second
issue falls into both permitting and inspection & enforcement considerations.
Bernie Freeman, of the OSMRE Albuoueroue staff, interprets OSMRE's directives
in relation to oversight to require him to discuss all issues considered
during the oversight investigation. If the SRA and OSMPE oversight groups
resolve a concern, the report will state so and present the specifics and
schedules for the proposed resolution. Bernie will not delete resolved topics
from discussion within the report.
Diversions
In the cases of the Roadside/Campn, Coal Basin and New Elk waste piles,
portions of these piles do not have upslopp diversions installed above them.
Bob and I have indicated that these were permittinq decisions made because of
the site-specific situation of steep slopes and small involved areas. Don
Fricklp, of the OSMPF Western Technical Center staff, and hydrologist,
concurred with our logic. Bernie Freeman is concerned that in the case of the
Powderhorn Coal diversion ditch, this topic was not discussed clearly enough
in the permit or findings documents, and represents a permitting process flaw
which should be remedied. The absence of a diversion ditch is specifically
discussed within the Coal Basin and New Elk permit documents.
423 Centennial Building, 1313 Sherman Street Denver, Colorado 80203-2273 Tel. [phone]