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March 26, 2014 <br />Mr eter Hays <br />jv! ivision of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />1313 Sherman Street, Suite 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />RE: "A�cord Complaint <br />Varra Heintzelman Mine <br />Longmont, Colorado <br />Dear Mr. Hays: <br />This letter follows our March 14, 2014 inspection of the Varra Companies, Inc. (Varra), Heintzelman <br />mine. A complaint letter dated February 19, 2014, was sent to the State. The complaint asserts <br />blame for poor well yields and dried springs on the Varra dewatering operations. A copy of the <br />complaint letter is provided as Attachment A. <br />I inspected the former domestic well for the Acord household on November 21, 2013, which was <br />documented in a letter to Varra dated December 9, 2013. A copy of that letter is attached for <br />reference (Attachment B). At the time of my inspection the measured depth to water was 10.58 feet <br />below ground surface (bgs). A new domestic well for the Acord residence was drilled on December <br />12, 2013, and the construction details of the well are documented on the Well Construction and <br />Test Report log submitted to the Division of Water Resources (DWR). The report is provided as <br />Attachment C. <br />As noted in the DWR report the static water level was recorded at 10 below grade. The water level <br />noted in December 2013 is substantially the same or higher than the observed level measured in <br />November 2013. The radius of influence created by any continuous dewatering operation is a <br />function of time and it would be expected to observe progressive draw down within the radius of <br />influence. This is not the observed case with respect to the Acord well(s). Infiltration from the Last <br />Chance Ditch and irrigation returns all help to negate dewatering influences. If the mine dewatering <br />is not affecting groundwater hydrology then any issues associated with groundwater - surface water <br />features such as springs must be related to other influences. In addition, groundwater drawn to the <br />mine cannot create a contaminate source so the issue of contaminating a well or spring is not valid <br />concern. <br />�w�s 4SU3 Four Star Court, port Ccllins, CC SC524 — 91"9C -3SC7 <br />