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III IIIIIIIIIIIII III <br />STATE OF COLOiv~~v <br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone: (303) 866-3567 <br />FAX: (303) 832-8106 <br />DATE: September 7, 1999 <br />TO: Jim Burnell <br />FROM: Jim Pendleton <br />RE: West EI <br />Corrective Measures Report" <br />No: C-80-007 <br />DIVISION OF <br />MINERALS <br />GEOLOGY <br />RECLAMATION <br />MINING•SAFETY <br />Bill Owens <br />Governor <br />Greg E. Walther <br />Executive Director <br />Michael B. Long <br />Division Director <br />I have reviewed the Landslide Corrective Measures Report submitted by Mountain Coal <br />Company. This report updates the progress of the remedial work preformed to stabilize the <br />massive landslide which has effected the F-Seam Surface Facilities area at the West Elk Mine. <br />The report presents a comprehensive summary of the on-going remedial activities being <br />implemented a[ the site. The re-evaluation of the stability of the effected areas reflect the impact <br />of the implementation of the various remedial techniques. While all of these evaluations are <br />comparative, lacking absolute relationship to original failure, they do allow determinations of <br />improved stability of [he effected area. Movement rates continue [o decrease at the toe, [he <br />central body, and head of the slide mass. I continue to agree with the author's conclusion that it <br />is unlikely "catastrophic failure" will occur. <br />My only concern focuses upon the eventual reclamation and abandonment of the site, including <br />the remedial facilities installed within [he slide mass. Section H5.4, addresses [he Stone <br />Columns. The stone columns have been effective in assisting to dewater the slide mass. <br />However, the stone columns require pumping. How does Mountain Coal intend [o abandon the <br />Stone Columns? Will they need to be pumped to avoid degradation of the landslide mass' <br />stability? If so, could some modification be made to provide drainage by gravity? <br />With this one inquiry, I recommend acceptance of the report, as submitted. <br />cr. Larry Routten <br />dot: MtGslide.WPD <br />JP/JP <br />