Laserfiche WebLink
STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />7313 Sherman St, Room 275 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone: (303) 866-3567 <br />FAX: (303) 832-8106 <br />July 27, 2004 <br />Mr. Dan Bear <br />17036 Opal Hill Drive <br />Parker, CO 80134 <br />COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF <br />MIN&RALS <br />GEOLOGY <br />FECLq MATIO N•HINING <br />Sq EETT•SCIENCE <br />Bill Owens <br />Governor <br />Russell George <br />Executive Director <br />Ronald W. Cattany <br />Dear Mr. Bear: <br />Division Director <br />Natural Resource Trustee <br />1 would like to follow up on a couple of items observed during our inspection of the Bear No. # 3 Mine last <br />week. As previously observed and reported by the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology Inactive <br />Mines Program, hotspots have been observed on the reclaimed Bear No. 3 Mine portals area. A copy of <br />this report was sent [o Bear Coal Company in a letter dated November 2l, 2003. The abandoned <br />Edwards/Clark coal mine and/or the Bear No. 3 coal mine is burning. The surface expression of the fire is <br />located at or near Sections 8 and 17 of T 13 S, R 90 W in Gunnison County near the reclaimed Bear No. 3 <br />portals. Information from the Bear No. 3 permit (C-1981-33) indicates that Arch Coal Company owns the <br />property on which the portal facilities are located. <br />Because the wildfire hazard in Colorado may be very high this summer, the Division is making an effort to <br />inform mine permittees and affected landowners of the locations of known underground coal mine fires. <br />As the permittee of the Bear No. 3 Mine, you may wish to take some steps to minimize [he potential of a <br />wildfire occurring as a result of the subsurface fire. Brush and dried grass removal from the vicinity of hot <br />vents, or the construction of a fire line around the perimeter of [he surface expression of the subsurface fire <br />are two measures [hat you may consider undertaking. You may also wish to contact your local fire <br />protection provider for additional suggestions, and to inform them of the subsurface fire. Because work <br />around subsurface fires involves exposure to hot vents and potentially unstable ground, extreme caution <br />should be exercised by anyone, including yourself, who may visit or work at the site. <br />In addition to the hotspots already mentioned, an additional concern was observed during the Phase One <br />bond Release inspection of July 20, 2004. As shown in the accompanying photograph, an opening was <br />observed on the western reclaimed portal area that is creating a safety hazard to the public. It is important <br />that the reclaimed mine site be secured to protect public health and safety. Please take measures to protect <br />the public safety at the Bear No. 3 Mine. <br />As a convenience, I am again enclosing a description of the surface expression of the fire for your <br />reference. This information is from the site visit conducted by Steve Renner of the Division's Inactive <br />Mines Program on October 27, 2003. A report from last week's Phase One bond release inspection is <br />forthcoming. <br />Please contact me if you have questions or comments. <br />Sincerely, <br />Sandra L. Brown <br />Senior Environmental Protection Specialist <br />Attachments <br />c. Henry Barbe, West Elk Coal Company with attachments <br />Jim Stover (J.E. Stover & Associates) with attachments <br />William Bear, Sr. with attachments <br />Joe Dudash <br />Office of Office of Colorado <br />Mined Land Reclamation Active and inactive Mines Geological Survey <br />