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BEFORE THE MINED LAND RECLAMATION BOARD
<br /> STATE OF COLORADO
<br /> FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW, AND ORDER
<br /> IN THE MATTER OF THE REQUEST OF HIGHBURY RESORUCES, INC.
<br /> FOR AN EXTENSION TO COMPLETE FINAL RECLAMATION, File Nos.
<br /> M-1977-306, M-1977-310, M-1977-451, M-1978-116, M-1979-094-HR, M-
<br /> 1984-014
<br /> THIS MATTER came before the Mined Land Reclamation Board ("Board") on
<br /> August 21, 2024, for a hearing regarding the request for an extension to complete
<br /> final reclamation filed by Highbury Resources, Inc. ("Operator") for the JD-9, JD-6,
<br /> SR-11, SM-18, JD-7 Pit, and C-JD-8 mines, file numbers M-1977-306, M-1977-310,
<br /> 1977-451, M-1978-116, M-1979-094-HR, M-1984-014. Dustin Czapla appeared on
<br /> behalf of the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety ("Division"). Doug Beam
<br /> appeared on behalf of Operator.
<br /> The Board, having considered the presentations, testimony, and evidence of
<br /> the Division' and Operator, and being fully informed of the facts in the matter,
<br /> enters the following:
<br /> FINDINGS OF FACT
<br /> 1. Operator holds reclamation permits for six uranium and vanadium
<br /> mines, the JD-9, JD-6, SR-11, SM-18, JD-7 Pit, and C-JD-8 mines. The sites are
<br /> located in Montrose and San Miguel Counties.
<br /> 2. On February 3, 2020, Cotter Corporation, the previous operator,
<br /> notified the Division that it was placing the mines into reclamation and that it had
<br /> sold the sites to Operator, who had submitted a separate substitution of operators
<br /> to the Division.
<br /> 3. On May 10, 2024, Operator submitted a request for a hearing for an
<br /> extension of the five-year deadline for final reclamation of the sites to allow
<br /> Operator to work with the U.S. Department of Energy and complete remaining
<br /> reclamation work. The Division set the request for a hearing at the Board's August
<br /> 21-22, 2024 meeting.
<br /> 4. At the August 21, 2024 Board meeting, the Division provided
<br /> testimony regarding the sites, remaining work to be done at the sites, and stated
<br /> that the Division did not oppose extending the deadline to complete final
<br /> reclamation by another five years to provide the Operator with time to meet
<br /> Department of Energy requirements and complete reclamation tasks on the sites.
<br /> 1 The Division was advisory staff to the Board, not a party, in this proceeding.
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