Special to the HT
MEEKER | The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) will host a public meeting May 13 to update the community on mitigation efforts at the historic Black Diamond coal mine site north of Meeker.
As reported last month, the site has been the source of a persistent underground coal fire burning since the 1930s. While largely contained below ground, recent monitoring has identified elevated surface temperatures, ground cracking and increasingly dry conditions, raising concerns about wildfire risk.
In response, DRMS is initiating a fuels reduction and access improvement project. Planned work includes removing about 1.5 acres of vegetation to create defensible space and constructing a 1.3-mile access route along the historic mine road in Anderson Gulch to improve monitoring and emergency response.
DRMS representatives will give a brief presentation followed by questions. The meeting is Wednesday, May 13 at 6 p.m. at Meeker Town Hall, 345 Market St.
