2021-03-22_PERMIT FILE - M1980038

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�MENT OF ly Q�PP •.s=.. AZT uswwa�iuMo°`..aw� y p United States Department of the Interior �4RCH 3 �e°9 BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Tres Rios Field Office 29211 Highway 184 Dolores, Colorado 81323 In Reply Refer To: COS01000/3600 COC-76096,COC-68439(17) JAN 2 1 2021 Dolores County Board of County Commissioners 409 Main Street Dove Creek, Colorado 81324 Dear Commissioners: Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you during a BOCC Zoom meeting last month. During this meeting, we discussed present and future activities at Dolores County's existing free use permit at the Black Snag Pit, located in Dolores County(COC-68439(17),as well as the future issuance of a free use permit at another BLM gravel pit known as the Disappointment Pit, located in San Miguel County. The purpose of this letter is to summarize the content of the meeting and give Dolores County guidance on how to proceed with future activities at each site. The Mineral Materials act of 1947 allows the United States to dispose of Federally owned common varieties of mineral materials through sales and permits(30 U.S.C. 601, et seq.)from public domain lands. BLM's regulations implementing mineral material disposals are found at 43 CFR§ 3600. Under these regulations,BLM is authorized to sell mineral materials to commercial entities at fair market value through either negotiated or competitive sales. The regulations also allow BLM to provide free use permits to Federal, State,and local government subdivisions and to non-profit agencies from areas where such activities are allowable under the local BLM Resource Management Plan(RMP). Disposal of mineral materials through sales or free use permits is at the discretion of the BLM. Negotiated sales are issued for terms of up to five years,while competitive sales and free use permits may be issued for terms of up to 10 years. The regulations covering issuance of free use permits to government entities are found at 43 CFR§ 3604.12(a),which states: BLM may issue free use permits to a government entity without limitation as to the number ofpermits or as to the value of the mineral materials to be extracted or removed,provided that the government entity shows that it will not use these materials for commercial or industrial purposes. Black Snag Pit The Dolores County Black Snag Free Use Permit is permitted for 8 acres, and 80,0000 cubic yards total volume on the most recent permit issued in 2017. The permit is valid through November 20, 2027. So far,about 6.1 of 8 acres have been disturbed. Unfortunately,it appears as though the deposit itself may pinch out to nothing on the remaining acreage. This could result in the available material being mined out