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The permit amendment application proposes to change the post mining land use from industrial/commercial <br /> to developed water resource by the installation of clay liners in the four (4) mining tracts (A-D). The mine <br /> plan is not changed by the proposed amendment application. <br /> The Division currently holds a financial warranty in the amount of$292,210.00. The Applicant decreed <br /> water rights to the Office of the State Engineer (SEO) to address the long-term augmentation responsibility <br /> at the site. An increase in the financial warranty is not expected as part of the amendment application,but <br /> will be evaluated by the Division as part of the adequacy review process. <br /> Acknowledged. <br /> The Western Sugar site is approved for 102.18 total permit acres. The amendment application does not add <br /> acreage to the permit. The site operation and layout remains consistent with the approved permit. The site <br /> was active during the inspection. Mining excavation,material processing and hauling of material was <br /> observed during the inspection. The site was being dewatered and dry mined. The approved Mining Plan <br /> states the active highwalls will be mined to 1.25H:1V slopes. The approved Reclamation Plan states slopes <br /> above the anticipated final water level of the basins and within 10 feet below the anticipated final water level <br /> of the basins will be graded at 3H:1V or flatter. Slopes below 10 feet from the anticipated final water level of <br /> the basins may approach 2H:1 V. <br /> Tract A contained the processing plant and product stockpiles. A portable concrete batch plant was being <br /> assembled in the southwest corner of the Tract. The Operator must provide the Division with a copy of the <br /> approved Weld County Building permit for the batch plant. A concrete foundation was constructed for the <br /> batch plant. The amendment application must address the financial warranty implications associated with the <br /> removal of the foundation as part of the financial warranty estimate for the amendment application. <br /> A copy of the Weld County Building permit is included with this submittal. Concrete anchors used to secure <br /> the structure are inert, and do not require demolition. The structure and foundation will outlive the <br /> Extraction Permit and related activity as concrete facility operations will remain a part of planned post <br /> extraction industrial/commercial activity,as provided for in the original approved OMLR extraction permit. <br /> Mining excavation in Tract B is complete and reclamation is progressing. The Operator stated the clay liner <br /> for the Tract is complete,but the required SEO testing has not been completed. The reclaimed slopes <br /> appeared to be 4H:1V or flatter and appeared stable. No erosion features were observed. Stockpiles of <br /> topsoil amended with manure were observed around the perimeter of the Tract. The approved Reclamation <br /> Plan states six (6) inches of topsoil will be replaced at the site. The plan does not mention the amending of <br /> onsite topsoil with manure. The Applicant must revise the Reclamation Plan as part of the amendment <br /> application to address the manure amendment. Mining excavation was occurring in Tracts C and D. The <br /> tracts were being dewatered and the perimeter slopes appeared to be 1.5H:IV. The excavation in Tract D <br /> appeared to be close to completion. The Operator estimates approximately 5 years of material remain in <br /> Tracts A, C and D,based on current sales. <br /> 10 <br /> Varra Companies, Inc. Western Sugar Project OMLR M-2010-049 <br /> Correspondence to Peter Hays 9 May 2016 <br />