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1 • • <br />White Fiiver Nahcolite Minerals <br />III IIIIIIIIIIIII III <br />sss <br />April 11, 1995 =tE~rFi~/E[''. <br />APR 17 1995 <br />Mr. Gregg R. Squire <br />Environmental Protection Specialist <br />Division of Minerals and Geology <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />llivlsion of immerals a ueoioy) <br />Subject: Response to Questions Regarding Annual Report i.e. BLM Lease <br />Modification and Pond Leachate, File No. M-83-194 <br />Dear Mr. Squire: <br />Your review of the White River Nahcolite Minerals' (WRN) 1994 Annual <br />Report raised two questions which we feel can be addressed without the need <br />for a Technical Revision or comprehensive monitoring program. The following <br />information is in response to your questions: <br />1. First, WRN has pur.~ued a lease modification with the BLM since 1991 to <br />add a window (520 acres) within existing WRN sodium leases (8,222.6 acres). <br />WRN would relinquish a like amount of acreage if the lease modification was <br />approved. The current status is the BLM must finalize an economic evaluation <br />and determine if WRN must pay for any additional value through the lease <br />modification process. \~VRN may or may not want the lease modification based <br />on the economic evaluation. The lease modification would be desirable as it <br />would eliminate 500 foot boundary off-set requirement around and within the <br />window. The window, with the boundary off-set, is not a minable unit other <br />than by WRN, therefore: the action would be good for the public and WRN. <br />The mining of the window area, involved with the lease modification is <br />presently plan after year. 20 in the 40 year Mine Plan. The BLM requested a <br />long range plan for the sodium leases. <br />The DMG permit is for a limited period of time with a total of 73 acres <br />permitted for disturbance. Currently, WRN has disturbed 50.9 acres. The <br />DMG, BLM and EPA Mine Plans cover the first five cavities or approximately <br />five years in detail. The BLM and EPA Mine Plan also has a general plan for <br />remaining thirty-five years. Because of the relatively new nature of nahcolite <br />White River Nahcolita Minerals, Limited Llablllty Company <br />P. O. Drawer 72. 3200 Co. Rtl. 31, Rifle, CO 81650 (tel) 303-878-3674 (fax) 303-678-5866 <br />