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May 30, 2002 <br />• • <br />- <br />Permit #: <br />Class: <br />'/emu <br />~ a \ <br />Confidental?: <br />Type-Seq.: Da- <br /> <br />From: To._,~2K[~ <br /> <br />Doc. Na , <br />Doc. Date (if no ate stamp): - <br /> <br />Mr. Tom Schreiner <br />Division of Minerals & Geology <br />1313 Shetntan Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />M~Y3a~ <br />~~Op s4 Mi~tals aKd 68A~e~ <br />i2E: Aggregate Industries - WCR, Inc. <br />Platte Valley Mine <br />Deaz Tom: <br />AGGREGATE <br />INDUSTRIES <br />This letter is in response to the recent letters received by the Division pertaining to injury <br />to neighboring water wells from dewatering activities associated with the Platte Valley <br />Mine. The Platte Valley Mine began groundwater dewatering in Apri12001. Mining and <br />processing of material commenced in June 2001. The mine holds a Colorado National <br />Pollutant Dischazge Permit (COG500250) that allows for dischazges into state waters. <br />Additionally, the Platte Valley Mine has an approved substitute supply plan (initial <br />approval date 8/10/00) from the State Engineers Office as well as a well permit <br />(055585F) associated with unlined ponds created during the mining process. <br />The Platte Valley Mine dewatered groundwater through mid-April from two pumps with <br />the maximum capacity of 3200 gallons per minute (gpm). The average amount of water <br />discharged was 2.664 mgd from two discharge points. The letter from Mr. Broncucci <br />stated that we were operating in "gross violation" of our well permit that allows for <br />groundwater appropriations of 88.48-acre feet with total ground water pond area limited <br />to 25 acres. The well permit issued from the State Engineer is based on projected <br />depletions of 88.48-acre feet attributable to evaporative losses from 25 acres of exposed <br />groundwater and other operational losses. A well permit is not required for water <br />pumped from the groundwater pond into the South Platte River. <br />In eazly April 2002, Aggregate Industries was contacted by two neighbors, Don <br />Rittenhouse (tenants are Agie and Dave Peters) and by Steve Broncucci. Both stated that <br />their wells were impacted and showed severe injury by the Platte Valley mining <br />operations. Wells were said to be either dry or cavitating. We requested that these wells <br />be verified by a third party to determine water levels and conditions of the wel]s and <br />pumps. Additionally, Bill Warmack Water Resource Engineer with Applegate Group <br />was commissioned to provide a preliminary assessment of impacts to adjacent well <br />owners. He concluded in his report dated April 17, 2002 (see attached), that the <br />Aggregate Industries <br />West Central Region, Inc. <br />3605 South Teller Street <br />Lakewood, CO 80235 <br />Telephone: 303-985-1070 An Equal Opportunity Employer <br />