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J. E. STOVER & ASSOCIATES, INC. <br />2768 COMPASS DRIVE, SUITE 101 <br />GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO 81506 <br />PHONE: (970) 245-4101, FAX 242-7908 <br />MINE ENGINEERING <br />MINE RECLAMATION <br />March 16, 2005 <br />Water Quality Control Division <br />W QCD-PE-B2 <br />4300 Cherry Creek Drive South <br />Denver, Colorado 80246-1530 <br />Re: Bear Coal Company <br />CDPS Permit No. CO-0044377 <br />Gunnison County <br />Dear People: <br />RECEIVED <br />MAR 16 2005 <br />Division of Reclamation, <br />Mining and Safety <br />CIVIL ENGINEERING <br />CONST.MANAGEMENT <br />On behalf of Bear Coal Company, Inc., (Bear), I would like to discuss the spring water <br />flowing onto and across Bear's reclaimed mine facilities area. The purpose of this letter is <br />to determine if Bear's discharge permit requires an amendment to address the spring <br />water. <br />Bear's mine portals were sealed on January 9,1997. On Saturday November 15,1997, a <br />slide located immediately west of the reclaimed Bear No. 3 Mine portals became active. <br />Debris from the slide flowed onto the old coal stockpile pad (west of the reclaimed stacking <br />tube) and into the North Fork of the Gunnison River south of the mine access bridge. <br />Shortly after the slide occurred, water started to flow from the east side of the slide scarp <br />onto Bears reclaimed mine facilities area. <br />Initially there was some confusion as to whether the water was mine water discharge or <br />spring water so Bear decided to handle the water as if it were mine discharge. Bear <br />continued to monitor and report the discharge to the Division for the next few years. In the <br />interim time period; the water was studied by the Division of Mineral and Geology, Bear <br />and Mountain Coal Company. The parties finally agreed the water emerging from the slide <br />was spring water associated with the landslide. Therefore, Bear decided to cease <br />monitoring the water and cease reporting the discharge to the Division. <br />Please call if you have any questions. <br />Sincerely, <br />/-<I <br />J. E. Stover, P.E. <br />Consulting Engineer