2019-04-13_REVISION - M1984168 ‎(9)‎

• Permit No: M1984168
• IBM Index Class Name: REVISION
• Doc Date: 4/13/2019
• Doc Name: Request for Technical Revision
• From: Williams Fork Mining
• To: DRMS
• Type & Sequence: TR7
• Email Name: ACY
• Email Name: THM
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Fai- WILLIAMS FORK MINING COMPANY
April 9, 2019 RECEIVED
APR 12 2019
Ms. Amy Yeldell OF RECLAMATION
Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety UNM AND SAFETY
1313 Sherman Street,Room 215
Denver,CO 80203
Re: Williams Fork Mining Company,Permit No.M-84-168
Update Sand and Gravel Pit Mining and Reclamation Plan,Technical Revision TR-07
Dear Ms. Yeldell:
With this submittal, Williams Fork Mining Company (WFMC) is requesting approval for a technical
revision to update our mining and reclamation plan for the above-captioned permit. In general, Williams
Fork Mining Company would like to add two mining areas within the existing permit area and make
some minor adjustments to the reclamation plan. In addition, in the most recent revision to this permit
(TR-06) WFMC had incorporated some changes requested by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) into
our reclamation plan with an eye toward incorporating the reclaimed mine area into the South Beach
State Park. CPW never followed up with the plan and appears to have gone in another direction with
local parks development; thus we plan to move forward without further consultation. The reclaimed mine
area will be very beneficial to wildlife and could still easily be incorporated into CPW's future plans as
agreed between them and the State Land Board—the owner of the property.
Exhibits C and F maps demonstrate the new proposed mining and reclamation plans, respectively. The
new mining areas will allow us to extend the life of the pit by several years. All of the gravel mined will
be transported to the nearby Trapper Mine where it will be used primarily for haulroad surfacing
purposes. It is anticipated that mining will recommence later this summer (2019). While the north pond
area has been totally reclaimed, the south pond area reclamation plan is updated in concert with the
revised mine plan. The graveled road to the area will be left in place to accommodate future recreation
access.
Two specific reclamation changes proposed are 1) to discontinue fertilization of replaced topsoil and 2)
to not replace cottonwood trees in the north portion of the permit area. An overwhelming body of
evidence demonstrates that using fertilizer for reclaimed rangelands is counterproductive. More
aggressive plant species are encouraged at the expense of less aggressive species with a net reduction in
plant community diversity as the result. The partially reclaimed WFMC permit area has proven to be one
of the premier waterfowl and shorebird habitats in the region. Encouraging multiple raptor perches in the
form of cottonwood trees would be contrary to the post mining use of this area.
Enclosed are the following revised pages: General Information, Exhibit B, Exhibit D, Table D-1,
Exhibit E (3 pages), Table E-1, Table E-2, Exhibit G, Exhibit H and Exhibit I. Also enclosed are the
following revised maps: Exhibit C and Exhibit F.
P.O. Box 187 Craig, Colorado 81626 [phone]