WSP02450

• File Number: 8220.106
• Description: Animas-La Plata
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 5/11/1998
• Title: Agenda Item 17 Water Project Construction Loan Program - Animas-La Plata Project - Status of Land Acquisition for Pump Station
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Board Memo

STATE OF COLORADO

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Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
721 Centennial Building
'31 3 Sherman Street
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

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MEMORANDUM

TO:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

Bill Green, P.E. ~y
Project Planning and Construction

FROM:

DATE: April 30, 1998

SUBJECT: Agenda Item 17, May 11-12, 1998 Board Meeting - Water Project
Construction Loan Program - Animas-La Plata Project - Status of
Land Acquisition for Pump Station

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 ofthe Animas-La Plata (A-LP) Project The Board
will also be asked to approve the subsequent conveyance oftms property to the Animas-
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 550/160 bridge. Please see the attached map.

Background
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 mill 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 flushed 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:

Roy Romer
Governor

James S. Lochhead
Executive Director, DNR

Oilries C.lile, P.E.
Director. eWeB

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