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~2ec~ives~ <br />Land Use Permit Application COC-69575 JUN 21 2006 <br />For Ground Water Quality Monitoring Wells <br />Response to Comments <br />t7urar~,o i'iefd Of.;w <br />1. Comment: There were numerous concerns about the potential impacts of a m Wing ope~rafori G2©logq <br />in the area. <br />Response: The current proposal includes only a permit to allow a monitoring well. It does not <br />include development of a mining operation. If the applicant or any other party decides to <br />pursue development of a mining operation, they would be required to submit a new permit or <br />permit amendment application to the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology and a Plan of <br />Operations with the BLM. The public would be notified of the mine proposal and would be <br />provided opportunity to submit comments. In addition, copies of the mine permit application <br />would be on file at the courthouse. An Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact <br />Statement would be written to discuss impacts of the mine proposal and develop mitigation <br />measures to reduce certain impacts and/or ensure compliance with various environmental laws <br />and regulations. <br />2. Comment: There was a concern about the location of the monitoring well and whether or not <br />it will properly reflect the effect on ground water quality of any future mining activity in the <br />area. <br />Response: Proper location of monitoring wells for assessing the effects on water quality by <br />any mining activity would be addressed as part of the mine permiUplan of operations process. <br />3. Comment: There were questions about how the monitoring well relates to the mine expansion <br />plans that the applicant discusses on their web site. <br />Response: The proposal is to drill one to two wells and maintain one well for the purpose of <br />gathering groundwater quality data to 1) determine the feasibility of developing a future <br />mining operation, 2) provide required baseline water quality data in the event a mining <br />operation proposal is developed, and 3) provide water quality monitoring data in the event a <br />mining operation proposal is approved. <br />4. Comment: Some area landowners would like to have their domestic water wells be included <br />in groundwater quality monitoring related to this proposal. This would be for the purposes of <br />providing additional baseline water quality data, as well as monitoring water quality in relation <br />to any future permitted mine activities. The Lake Fork Watershed Stakeholders Group <br />indicated that they might be able to help coordinate such efforts. <br />Response: BLM is checking with Colorado DMG to find out how that could be accomplished. <br />We will then be in contact with those landowners and the Lake Fork Watershed Stakeholders <br />Group with that information. <br />5. Comment: There were concerns about the potential impact of the monitoring well on <br />domestic water wells in the area, for instance, via contamination of the monitoring well. <br />Response: The applicant has been issued a Well Permit from the Colorado Division of Water <br />Resources. Conditions of the permit include that the well must not be used in such a way as to <br />cause "material injury to existing water rights". In addition, the well must be capped and <br />locked at all times except during sampling or measuring to prevent well contamination. <br />6. Comment: There were concems as to whether or not the results of the applicant's water <br />quality sampling would be available to the public. <br />