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w , <br /> Citizens say <br /> mining still <br /> fouls river <br /> H000mr MoOregor <br /> Daily Sentinel <br /> REDSTONE—Coal Creek contin <br /> ues to be polluted by Mid-Conti- Meanwhile, most workers were <br /> nent Resources mines, contends a on tlie Job during the 24-hour sus <br /> Palisade man and more than 100 pension Wednesday under an <br /> Crystal River Valley residents. agreement between the company <br /> Mike Mechau, who grew up near and division officials. <br /> Redstone along the Crystal River. While ordering the suspension, <br /> said, "I've watched,over the years, Shelton said workers could contin- <br /> the pollution of the Crystal River Ue with health and safety projects, <br /> by Coal Creek It's gotten worse ervironmewel work and ke,•i;in- <br /> tale io-12wad nlining J•; ' , <br /> tl-',-ruining operation." -- mint-r' <br /> Mechau and John Stickney,of the r:•:lviiie. <br /> Crystal River Valley, presented A necessary result �*rnoe:ng the <br /> petitions signed by 115 people in a long`+-all equipment was the in-i;,inp <br /> hearing Tuesday before the state n`Some`'ea 1,sip'• sr,;a:ic ii�iae:ti,z <br /> Mined Land Reclamation Board on Micl'Continents a?tcsrio„la;,. <br /> M;d-Continent's pollution -` lio.a........ <br /> P viola- ==- ..: ; <br /> tions. tarn up. If it's;::t m,Ivil, the <br /> The company's mining permit sure bears en the equipment and <br /> was suspended for 24 hours cliazir,gers it an(i sae entire M..Ing <br /> Wednesday following that hearing operation,"Delaney said. <br /> for what Mined Land Reclamation Dave Shelton. director of the <br /> Division officials called a `pattern 9iSinn Swi'? "Tiic aruut:It i; Movea <br /> -- of violations" at its Coal Basin was related with the need to prci- <br /> Mines. test it. <br /> The violations centered around 'We had an inspector on the site <br /> Pollution of Coal Creek during the entire day. We have no reason <br /> \� record spring runoff in 1984. to think they haven't complied." <br /> `� While officials from Pitkin and The coal mined. in the process <br /> Garfield counties were at the Tues- was hauled up to the surface h„t <br /> day hearing in support of Mid-Con- was stockpiled at the site rather <br /> tinent, which employ`s more than than l eing trucked to Carbondale, <br /> I 500 workers, Mechau contends the Delaney said. <br /> j) water pollution problem still ex "It was the wish of the division to <br /> ists. have as many people working as <br /> "Mid-Continent has made great pos.iible," she said. "We put them <br /> strides in cleaning things up, after to work on other tasks." <br /> i they were cited and fined,"Mechau <br /> said today, "but the testimony of �'— <br /> the creek is that things are still <br /> f very wrong." <br /> Dave Shelton, director of the <br /> Mined Land Reclamation Division, <br /> said the company has ^omplied <br /> with state and federal discharge <br /> regulations throughout the year, <br /> even during high runoff this past RF IV D <br /> � :spring, EC <br /> "In the Umes I've been up there. <br /> the discha, a from their sediment OCT! <br /> ponds has been clearer than the <br /> water in the stream,"Shelton said. <br /> However, Mechau contends the MINED LAND <br /> j stream runs muddy long after a RECLAMATION DIVISION <br /> rainstorm when other creeks have <br /> cleared up. He believes much of <br /> the sediment comes from the dirt <br /> roads and embankments leading to <br /> the mine. <br />