Laserfiche WebLink
AVCOLORADO <br /> Division of Water Resources <br /> Department of Natural Resources <br /> 1313 Sherman St., Room 821 <br /> Denver, CO 80203 <br /> August 1, 2017 <br /> Travis Marshall, Environmental Protection Specialist <br /> Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br /> 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br /> Denver, Colorado 80203 <br /> Re: Nahocolite Project (Permit No. M-1983-194-083) <br /> Natural Soda, LLC <br /> Section 27, T1 S, R98W, 6th PM, in Rio Blanco County <br /> Dear Mr. Marshall: <br /> The Division of Water Resources has reviewed the Nahocolite Project (Permit No. M- <br /> 1983-194) Construction Materials Reclamation Permit Amendment Application Consideration <br /> Application. The applicant requests a permit amendment to change the 8,379 permitted acres <br /> to 12,248 permitted acres more or less. According to the proposed amendment, Natural Soda <br /> will be adding seven production (injection and recovery) wells with this amendment. The in situ <br /> solution mining of nahcolite operation is located in Rio Blanco County. The State Engineers <br /> Office (SEO) offers the following comments on this project: <br /> Please note that the site is within an appropriated stream basin. All surface and ground <br /> water diversions in over appropriated areas must be made in priority or must be fully augmented <br /> so as to not cause injury to senior water rights. <br /> Additionally, if storm water is not diverted or captured in priority, Colorado water law <br /> requires it be released, or replacement for evaporation will be required of the operator/owner of <br /> the site. The State Engineer's current policy requires that all impounded water be released to <br /> the stream system within a maximum of 72 hours after impoundment. Unless captured in <br /> priority, impounded water may not be used for any purpose except as approved under a <br /> substitute water supply plan or a decreed plan for augmentation. Additionally, If the construction <br /> of any ponds/pits exposes ground water, the pond/pit must be backfilled immediately until a well <br /> permit issued pursuant to CRS 37-90-137(2), allowing the exposure of ground water in a <br /> pond/pit, is obtained from the State Engineer. <br /> From my review of this site, it appears that several of the well permit types referenced <br /> below are applicable to this site. Please note that the dewatering operations if used for any <br /> beneficial use will require non-exempt permits. Also, if any wells have been completed without <br /> a valid MH Notice or well permit, the applicant will need to take immediate action to either plug <br /> and abandon or permit the wells through the SEO. <br /> 10e-c9t <br /> 1313 Sherman Street, Room 821, Denver, CO 80203 P 303.866.3581 i�r^�� `` � �\• <br /> j01 <br /> John W. Hickenlooper, Governor I Robert Randall, Executive Director ( Dick Wolfe, State Engineer '„*\' ,•,: i'*, <br /> ••�f s 7h..• <br />