Animas- La Plata Environmental Impact Statement

STATE OF COLORADO
o Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources , •S
721 Centennial 8uildin6
-� 1313 Sherman Street
Denver, Cdorado 80203
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Phone: [phone] —
FAX: [phone] Roy earner
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James S. loddmAd
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MOM(. CWC6
MEMO
TO: Colorado Water Conservation Board Members
FROM: Bill Green, P.E. PV
Project Planning and Construction
DATE: April 30,1998
SUBJECT: Agenda Item 17, May 11- 12,1998 Board Meeting - Water Project
Construction Loan Program — Anhnas -La Plata Project — States of
Land Acquisition for Pump Stadon
Introduction
The Board will be asked to accept a quitclaim deed from the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for 46 acres of land that is proposed to be used
for the Durango Pumping Plant site of the Animas -La Plata (A -LP) Project. The Board
will also be asked to approve the subsequent conveyance of this property to the Animes-
I La Plata Water Conservancy District (the District).
The property is located in the southern part of Durango on the west bank of the Animas
River near the U.S. Highway 5501160 bridge. Please see the attached map.
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Bay grond
The CDPHE obtained title to the property in 1990 through a condemnation action in the
La Plata County District Court. The property was part of a uranium trill site that was
condemned and cleaned up by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in cooperation with
the CDPHE, under the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (UMTRCA) of
1978. The surface cleanup was approved by DOE and the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission with the exception of a 30 -foot by 30 -foot `hot spot" which is not expected
to be a serious problem for surface use of the property. Some groundwater contamination
remains, which the DOE expects to be tlushod naturally by groundwater movement.
DOE requires that a Restricted Use Plan be a condition of any conveyance of the
property. The Restricted Use Plan, which is contained in the quitclaim deed from the
CDPHE, limits how the property may be used in the future and includes the following
requirements: