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STATE OFCOLORADO mG~~~nDO LPMM Davnmy III III III III IIII III 9~ DEPARTMENT OFNATURAL RESOURCES D. Monte Pascoe, Executive Director MINED LAND RECLAMATION 423 Centennial Building, 1313 Sherman Slreet Denver, Colorado 80203 Tel. (303) 866-3567 David C. Shelton Director January 6, 1982 Mr. Bruce Collins Mine Superintendent Blue Ribbon Coal Company P.O. BOx 58 Delta, Colorado 81416 Re: Blue Ribbon Mine - Underground Development Waste Disposal Our File No. C-047-81 Dear Mr. Collins: This letter is in response to our recent telephone conversation regarding the underground development waste disposal situation existing at the Blue Ribbon mine. The Division understands that adverse underground mining conditions encountered recently have resulted in the need to dispose of some of the waste material currently being generated under- ground on the surface, as opposed to backs towing the material, which .has been the case in the past. Due to the lack of an approved waste disposal pile on the site and the length of time required to design an approved disposal pile at the Blue Ribbon mine, the Division feels that the only alternative currently available is to transport all waste material brought to the surface to the approved underground development waste disposal pile at the Red Canyon mine near Cedaredge, operated by Grand Mesa Properties, Inc. and under the control of western Associated Coal Corporation. This appears to be the most appropriate solution given the temporary nature of the problem. However, if this situation develops into a long-term waste disposal problem, an approved waste disposal pile will need to be designed and implemented in order to maintain compliance with the Colorado permanent regulatory program. As discussed over the phone, operating conditions are such that it will be necessary to store a small amount of material until a full truckload is available for transport to the Red Canyon mine. This is acceptable to the Division as long as the volume of material in the pile at any one time does not exceed the amount required to fill a single haulage truck. This will be monitored and verified during the Division's monthly inspections, and the operator is advised that exceeding the maximum allowable volume may result in an enforcement action by the Division. The primary reason for this volume linutation is the concern for the stability of the mine bench. The bench has, for some time, exhibited instability problems and placement of large amounts of material on the bench could result in significant slope failures.