1996-10-29_INSPECTION - M1974052

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IIIIIIIIIIIII III STATE OF COLORADO DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY Departmentof Depar tment Natural Resources 1313 Sherman St., Room 215 Denver,Colorado 80203 Phone:(303)8fi6-6-35fi7 FAX 1;0❑832-8106 DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES October 29, 1996 Roy Romer Governor Mr. Christopher L. Varra James S.Lochhead Executive Director Varra Companies, Inc. Michael B.Long 2130 S. 96th Street Division Director Broomfield, CO 80020 RE: INSPECTION REPORT OF MAY 16, 1996 - PIT NO. 1 Problem Resolution - File No. M-74-052 Dear Mr. Varra: The Division has received your temporary augmentation plan information dated Friday, October 25, 1996. As a follow up, I have checked my inspection report of May 16, 1996 and determined the status of the problems noted in that report. The current status of each problem is noted below: PROBLEM 1 The operator is constructing a clay lined water storage reservoir. This is not an approved part of the reclamation plan or final end use for the property. Status: This problem has not been resolved. The operator has submitted plans for possible Backfilling of this area (TR-1 - approved September 3, 1996), as well as following up on the temporary augmentation plan with the Office of the State Engineer (OSE) (letter of October 25, 1996 from Varra) on the operator's letter of August 1, 1996 Technical Revision Pit No. 1 - the operator stated that "Preparations on an amendment are underway to allow for the development of a lined pond instead of backfilling, again, to preclude the need for permanent water augmentation should backfilling of the ponds become impractical." As a matter of classification, is the operator still planning to submit an amendment for a lined pond? If so, what is the approximate planned date for the submittal? Construction should not proceed until an amendment is submitted and approved.