Laserfiche WebLink
Page 2 of 3 <br />Public Notice <br />The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (Division) has begun the process of terminating its <br />jurisdiction over the reclaimed GEC Coal Mine. The mine site is located approximately 12 miles southwest of <br />the city of Florence in Fremont County. The disturbed and reclaimed areas are located in portions of Sections <br />24 and 25, Township 20 South, Range 70 West of the 6th P.M. and portions of Sections 19 and 30, Township <br />20 South, Range 69 West of the 6th P.M. The former permit area under consideration for termination of <br />jurisdiction is approximately 720 acres of which 183.9 acres were disturbed. The surface ownership is private, <br />and the coal mined was private. <br />The area has an extensive history of mining. The GEC Mine was originally permitted by GEC Minerals (the <br />operator) under interim permit No. 77 -48, issued November 3, 1980. On December 12, 1982 the Division <br />issued permanent program permit No. C- 1981 -037 to GEC Minerals. The bond was a Letter of Credit. The <br />Mined Land Reclamation Board (the Board) revoked the GEC permit due to a pattern of violations on February <br />23, 1984. As part of the settlement agreement, the Board did not forfeit the GEC bond (of $534,000.00), <br />however, GEC Minerals, Inc. was ordered to reclaim all portions of the mine. <br />Shortly after the permit revocation, GEC Minerals, Inc. reclaimed the West Pit area and applied for a Phase I <br />Bond Release on December 9, 1985. The Division approved the partial Phase I Bond Release on February 14, <br />1986. The approval of the partial Phase I Bond Release granted release of $85,800.00, or 60% of the liability <br />assigned to reclamation of the West Pit. GEC Minerals, Inc. did not complete any more reclamation at the <br />mine. <br />The Board forfeited the remaining reclamation bond on June 11, 1987. The Division contracted the remaining <br />reclamation work that was completed between 1993 and 1995. The reclamation work conducted between 1993 <br />and 1995 expended all available bond monies. The Division received severance tax monies in 2000. The <br />Division conducted some maintenance projects at the site. At the request of the landowner, additional projects <br />were halted. Since the Permit was revoked and the bond was forfeited, the Division has conducted regular and <br />periodic inspection to document the condition of the site. As all available monies for the site have been <br />expended, no additional funds are available for maintenance at the GEC mine. <br />Written comments, objections, or requests for an informal conference may be submitted to the Colorado <br />Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety, 1313 Sherman street, room 215, Denver, CO 80203, within 30 <br />days of the last publication of this notice. <br />