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USDA United States Forest Leadville Ranger District 810 Front Street <br /> Department of Service Leadville,CO 80461 <br /> Agriculture 719-486-0749 <br /> Fax:719-486-0928 <br /> File Code: 1950; 2810 RECEIVED <br /> Date: March 3,2020 <br /> MAR 'i 3 2020 <br /> DIVISION OF RECLAMATION <br /> Dear Interested Party, MINING AND SAFETY <br /> I am writing to advise you that the Leadville Ranger District of the San Isabel National Forest is <br /> considering a request by Vernon Martinez for approval of a Mine Plan of Operations(MPO) to <br /> implement exploration and mining activities on National Forest System (NFS) lands in 6th <br /> Principal Meridian, Township 12 South, Range 79 West, Sections 21 and 22. The proposed <br /> project is on the Oro Vista#1,Oro Vista#2, and Oro Vista#3 unpatented mining claims located <br /> in Chaffee County, Colorado, approximately 12 miles north of Buena Vista(Exhibit A). <br /> The proponent would conduct suction dredging and hand-auger drilling operations on one(1) <br /> acre of National Forest System lands. The project description and other information is available <br /> for review at the Leadville Ranger District, 810 Front Street, Leadville, CO 80461,(719)486- <br /> 0749. <br /> The purpose of this letter is to provide the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed <br /> project and the scope of the environmental analysis that will be conducted pursuant to the <br /> National Environmental Policy Act(NEPA). We are requesting input from the public on <br /> potential environmental impacts of this proposal that are of concern to you. <br /> PROPOSED ACTION: <br /> The proponent would access the project area using U.S. Highway 24 to FSR 371 to an unnamed <br /> access road with approximate dimensions of 10 feet wide x 3737 feet long(0.86 acres). The <br /> operator will be responsible for installing a gate and decommissioning the access road to meet <br /> Forest Service standards. <br /> The operator proposes to conduct mining activities and associated reclamation work on <br /> unpatented mining claims the proponent owns near the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area <br /> (AHRA)Numbers launch site. The operations will be completed in three (3) phases and will <br /> involve suction dredging(phases 1 and 2)and hand-auger drill holes(phase 3). <br /> Phases 1 and 2 will include the use of one 4"(intake) suction dredge to trench an area with <br /> approximate dimensions of 20' x 80'. One trench will be dredged per season and sediments <br /> smaller than 1/8"will be discharged behind a silt fence for processing. All equipment and silt <br /> fence will be removed at the end of the operating season. Total disturbance for phases 1 and 2 <br /> will be 3,600 square feet (SF)or 0.08 acres. <br /> Phase 3 will include hand-auger drilling of 20 to 25 holes,4 to 6 feet deep, 6-inch diameter. All <br /> drill holes will be within one 20' x 80' disturbance and all holes will be reclaimed at the end of <br /> each mining season. Total disturbance for phase 3 will be 1,600 SF or 0.04 acres. <br /> s <br /> Caring for the Land and Serving People Primed on Rec)clal Paper <br />