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t: 4Lo';:., __ 0., -. MEMORANDUM To: files Subject: Response to the Bureau of Mines, May 22, 1974, Letter of Comment on the Draft Environmental Statement, Fryingpan- Arkansas Projct, Colorado 1. Comment - The North- and South-Side Collection System tunnels, the Charles H. Boustead Tunnel, the Mt. Elbert Canal, and the Lime Creek Intercept all are located in a region of pervasive rock alteration and mineralization along the western boundary of the Colorado mineral belt. Several mining districts with a history of significant gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc production occupy this area. Some claims will be extinguished and some patented land acquired along the route of these improvements; resource development may be pre- cluded by the proximity of tunnel or canal structures. No evaluation of this potential mineral resource involvement is attempted in the draft environmental statement. Response: Project. anal ys is , The Lime Creek Intercept is a deferred feature of the If and when it is developed, a comprehensive environmental including economic geology, will be made of the area. . The North and South Side Collection Systems, Charles H. Boustead Tunnel, and the Mt. Elbert Conduit are all outside of the mineral- ized belt, see Figure 111-10. and Chapter III, paragraph A3e. Any effect of these features on mineral production potential will be minimum. The area of the tunnels, conduits, or canals, plus a pre- determined area surrounding them will be removed from any public use including mineral development. The total area is determined by design engineers and is to protect the tunnels, conduits or canals. Assuming approval is granted by the appropriate Government agency, mineral development can take place outside of the rights-of-way boundaries. . 2. Comment - In order to satisfy adequately the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, an assessment of the mineral resource involvements of the collection system tunnels, the Mt. Elbert forebay Dam, Mt. Elbert Canal, and the Lime Creek Intercept should be included in the environmental statement. The presence of mineral claims in the area of these proposed improvements and the history of mineral production from surrounding mining idstricts argue against the veracity of the blanket statement on page 111-75, (vol. 2), which asserts that, "No mineral deposits of economic or geologic value are known to occur in areas directly affected by the construction of the fAP." Data in this draft environmental state- ment are inadequate to support such a statement. We recommend that a suitable examination and evaluation be performed by objective and qualified personnel and that appropriate additions be made to the final environmental statement for the fryingpan-Arkansas Project. XI-26l