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ENT OF�yR <br /> v �p -tif United States Department of the Interior °_. 'a. <br /> BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT <br /> Colorado State Office <br /> CH 33 aa9 2850 Youngfield Street <br /> Lakewood, Colorado 80215-7210 <br /> www.co.blm.gov <br /> In Reply Refer To: <br /> 3809 (CO-921) <br /> COC 53227 DEC 0 4 2018 <br /> COC 52049 <br /> RECEIVED <br /> Jennifer Thurston DEC 13 ZU18 <br /> INFORM <br /> PO Box 332 DIVISION OF RECLAMATION <br /> Paradox, CO 811429 M►N►NGANDSAFETY <br /> Dear Ms. Thurston, <br /> Thank you for your letter inquiring about the status of the Sunday Mine Complex Plan of <br /> Operations (2007 Plan) and environmental assessment (CO-800-2007-104-EA) the Bureau of <br /> Land Management (BLM) — San Juan Public Lands Center(SJPLC) prepared and the State <br /> Director remanded. Please accept this letter and its attachment (Sunday Mine Complex Status <br /> Inquiries) as BLM Colorado's response. <br /> In January 2009, the SJPLC issued a Finding of No Significant Impact, Environmental <br /> Assessment, and Decision Record approving the 2007 Plan. The 2007 Plan attempted to <br /> consolidate the Sunday Mines (Sunday, St. Jude, and Carnation—COC-53227), the West Sunday <br /> Mine (COC-52049), and the Topaz Mine (CO-030-NI-9) under a single plan of operations. The <br /> 2007 Plan also would have authorized 7.85 additional acres of surface disturbance. <br /> Three non-governmental organizations, including INFORM, petitioned for State Director <br /> Review of the 2007 Plan. On September 17, 2009, the State Director for the BLM Colorado State <br /> Office issued a decision that found the SJPLC did not meet all of the legal and technical review <br /> requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Based on this finding, the <br /> State Director remanded the 2007 Plan to the SJPLC, now the BLM Tres Rios Field Office. The <br /> remand required the Field Office to collect and use adequate baseline data for water and soil in <br /> its environmental analysis for the Sunday Mine Complex's waste pile area before allowing for <br /> any waste pile expansions. The State Director also required additional data to accurately analyze <br /> the mine's groundwater impacts. The decision allowed mining to continue under the existing <br /> plans and permits, but required monitoring until the 2007 Plan is adequately reviewed, approved, <br /> and completed with the appropriate baseline data. <br /> After the State Director remanded the EA, management of the mines reverted to their previously <br /> approved plans of operation. Currently, the mines are in a period of non-operation. Mining <br /> activity could resume under the existing approved plans. However, the operator would need to <br />