GENERAL38438

• Permit No: C1981033
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 4/13/2004
• Doc Name: Bear Edwards Clark Underground Coal Mine Fire ‎(Memo)‎
• From: Steve Renner
• To: Joe Dudash
• Permit Index Doc Type: General Correspondence
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215 C O L D RA D O
Denver, Colorado 80203 D t v t s t o N o f
Phone: [phone] lVt 1 Iv & A I. $

FAX: [phone] G E O L O G Y
REC LAMATIO N•MINING
SAFETT•SC IENCE
April 13, 2004 Bill Owens
Governor
MEMO Russell George
Executive Director
Ronald W. Cottony
TO: Joe Dudash Division Director
Natural Resource Trustee
FROM:. Steve Renner _ _ _
RE: Bear / Edwards / Clazk Underground Coal Mine Fire
Thank you for providing the additional information that the Beaz Coal Company
submitted regazding the underground fire that is venting at the Beaz Coal property neaz
Somerset in Gunnison County.
The submittal documents past fire events at the underlying Edwazds / Clazk Mine. These
events apparently occurred in the B seam during the 1950 s. It is my understanding that
due to combustion in the B seam, the Edwazds / Clazk operation sealed the B seam, and
continued mining in the C seam until 1964.
Appazently, Bear Coal Company began mining operations in the C seam in the eazly
1980 s. Following the completion of C seam mining, Bear ramped into the B seam, and
mined there until operations ceased.
It is apparent that spontaneous combustion in the B seam was a problem during eazlier
operations. Beaz states that such problems did not occur in the C seam. Beaz also notes
that the location of some surface vents indicates that combustion is occurring in the B
seam, and that the location of other vents may be more related to geologic phenomenon
than to outcrop location.
Although some logical assumptions and theories have been advanced, neither Bear Coal
nor myself is able to make a specific demonstration as to the location of the fire. The
complex interrelationship of the Beaz and Edwazds / Clazk operations only serves to
make a specific delineation more difficult. My observations of the ground surface, and
the memos submitted by Beaz Coal and yourself do not provide specific information that
is sufficient to make a determination as to the origin and location of the fire. Specific,
scientific evidence that would cleazly document the source of the fire does not appeaz to
exist at this time.
Office of Office of Colorado
Mined Land Reclamation Active and Inactive Mines Geological Survey