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Post-mining Land Use <br />The Act and Rules require that affected lands be reclaimed to a beneficial land use but do not <br />require that affected lands be restored to resemble apre-mining natural environment. The post- <br />mining land use is the beneficial final land use which reclamation of affected lands must support. <br />Rule 3.1.1(1) and (2) states that in consultation with the landowner, where possible, and subject <br />to the approval of the Board or Office, the permit applicant shall choose how the affected lands <br />shall be reclaimed. These decisions can be for torest, range, crop, horticultural, home-site, <br />recreational, industrial, or other uses, including food, shelter and ground cover for wildlife. The <br />results of these decisions shall be formulated into a reclamation plan, as specified in Rule 6.4.4 or <br />6.4.5, as required for the size and type of operation. Page 3 of the Board approved regular 1 12 <br />permit application form expands the list of post-mining land use options. These options include <br />cropland, rangeland, residential, developed water resources, pastureland, forestry, recreation, <br />general agriculture, wildlife habitat, industrial/commercial, and solid waste disposal. <br />The approved reclamation plan for the Sunnyside Mine permit indicates that the Mayflower Mill <br />tailings impoundments, and their associated material borrow areas, shalt be reclaimed to support <br />rangeland and wildlife habitat post-mining land use. The application clarifies that the permit <br />holder desires to reclaim these affected lands to approximate a mountain park ecosystem. <br />The permit holder, in consultation with the landowner, has not selected home-site or residential <br />post-mining land use for the Mayflower Mill tailings impoundments or their associated material <br />borrow areas. Therefore, the reclamation plan is not required to address home-site or residential <br />post-mining land use. Pursuant to Rule 6.4.5, the reclamation plan must support the post-mining <br />land use, as selected by the applicant, in consultation with the landowner. <br />Requirements of the Reclamation Plan <br />The above discussion provides a brief explanation of the general requirements of the reclamation <br />plan. Specific details of the reclamation plan and performance standards of the Act and Rules are <br />available at the DMG office in Denver or Durango. <br />Pfease contact me at the DMG Durango Office, 701 Camino del Rio, Room 125, Durango, CO <br />81301, phone (970) 247-5469, if you have any questions. <br />Sincerely, <br />(~ N <br />Wallace fi. Erickson <br />Environmental Protection Specialist <br />cc: Larry Perino, SGC <br />