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~\ <br />III IIIIII III IIII III <br />999 <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 21 5 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />Phone: (3031 866-3567 <br />FA%:(3031832-8106 <br />DATE: September 9, 1993 <br />TO: Christine Johnston <br />FROM: Jim Pendleton <br />oc Coro <br />~~~ <br />He <br />• a <br />rB t6 <br />Roy Romer <br />Governor <br />M¢hael B. Long <br />Division Director <br />RE: Technical R~ No. 65; West Elk Mine; <br />Subsurface Investigation (Permit No: C-80-00'n <br />As you requested, I have completed a review of the subsurface <br />investigation submitted in support of the above referenced <br />technical revision. Mountain Coal is proposing to construct a coal <br />stacking and reclaim facility adjacent to their existing Silo #2 at <br />the Mount Gunnison No. 1 Mine. They propose to locate the tube on <br />the site of existing Pond MB-2. They will construct a replacement <br />pond, MB-2R farther to the east and enlarge Pond MB-3 to <br />accommodate drainage from the coal stacking facility. You <br />requested that an appropriate geotechnical foundational <br />investigation be conducted. The study was performed by BBC&M <br />Engineering of Dublin, Ohio, a subcontractor to the Operator's <br />primary contractor, Westar, Inc. of Rifle, Colorado. <br />In my opinion the study seems to have been comprehensively and <br />thoroughly performed. Appropriate soil auger borings and a test <br />pit were completed. Samples collected from these exploratory <br />excavations were characterized in the field and the laboratory. <br />Finally, "preliminary" stability analyses were performed on the <br />interior and exterior slopes of Pond MB-2R. I characterize these <br />stability analyses as "preliminary" because BBC&M assumed <br />approximate configurations because the design had not been <br />completed by Westar at the time of analysis. Finally, BBC&M <br />included recommendations regarding the design and construction of <br />the proposed facilities. In my opinion BBC&M has performed in an <br />exemplary manner, and I would recommend that you convey our opinion <br />to the Operator. <br />