INSPEC09018

• Permit No: M1977310
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Date: 5/12/2005
• Doc Name: Insp Rpt
• From: DMG
• To: Cotter Corporation
• Inspection Date: 5/4/2005
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
May 12, 2005
Glen Williams
Cotter Corporation/
P.O. Box 700
Nucla, CO 81424
Re: Inspection reports for M-1977-306, M-1977-31, M-1978-116 and M-1984-014.
Dear Mr. Williams:
COLORADO
DIVISION OF
MINERALS
GEOLOGY
RECIAMgT10N•M INING
EAFETY•SCIENCE
Bill Owens
Governor
Russell George
Executive Director
Ronald W. Cattany
Division Director
Natural Resource Trustee
On May 4th, 200 he Division of Minerals and Geology inspected the JD-6, JD-8, JD-9, and
SM-18 Mines. Senior Environmental Protection Specialist and North Team Supervisor Carl
Mount accompanied Environmental Protection Specialists II Steve Shuey and Russ Means. The
inspection of the sites first hand by Mr. Mount is part of the review process to bring the mines up
to current standards and determine whether Designated Mining Operation status is warranted at
any of the sites.
The sites were inspected in mid March and no problems were noted in part because they were
cursory in nature, fact finding and as noted, the issues were to be addressed as part of the
above referenced review. However, the enclosed inspections and one for the SM-18 by
Specialist Steve Shuey note several problems that must be addressed immediately due to the
impact to the area and the pace of Cotter's production.
The Grand Junction Field staff has worked with Cotter on an amicable basis for some time
based on the fact the mines in question were mothballed and being reclaimed. Conditions at
the sites over the last 45 days have deteriorated to the point that DMG staff must take a harder
line to ensure that future reclamation can be accomplished and the overall environment are not
impacted anymore than necessary by Cotter activities.
What is distressing to this Office is that most of the issues noted are housekeeping in nature,
common sense planning or items that have been clearly outlined in an amendment that appear
to have been openly ignored. The original permits may be from the 70's and early 80's but the
Division must ensure that all operators do everything in their power to successfully reclaim the
lands disturbed. This includes saving as much topsoil as possible, preventing contamination of
soils and water and preventing impacts from stormwater run off. By Rule, the Division can and
will require Cotter to meet current standards not 1977 ones.
Office of Office of Colorado