PERMFILE61597

• Permit No: M1999002
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 6/3/1999
• Doc Name: DMG rationale and recommendation to approve the permit application
• From: DMG
• To: YANKEE GULCH PROJECT RECLAMATION PERMIT APPLICATION DISTRIBUTION LIST
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

s •
Application Por a Reclamation Permit
American Soda, L.L.P., Yankee Gulch Minerals Protect
File No. M-99-002
Board Hearing
In accordance with Rule 1.4.5(4) of the Hard RocklMetal Mining Rules and Regulations of the
Mined Land Reclamation Board (rules), on the date set for consideration of a permit application,
the Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG) shall approve or deny [he application, or set the
matter for a hearing before the Mined Land Reclamation Board (Board). A hearing has been
scheduled for June 23, 1999 beginning at 9:00 a.m. to be held in room 318 of the Centennial
Building, 1313 Sherman Street, Denver Colorado. In accordance with 2.7, apre-hearing
conference has been scheduled for June 15, 1999 at the offices of the DMG.
DMG Recommendation
Rule 1.4.5(5) requires the DMG to make a recommendation on an application on the date set for
consideration. DMG recommends approval of American Soda's application for the Yankee
Gulch Minerals Project, File No. M-99-002 without conditions.
Issues Raised during DMG Review
In accordance with Rule 1.4.5(6), the following listing is provided of the issues raised by the
DMG in the review of the reclamation permit application for the Yankee Gulch Minerals Project
and a summary statement detailing how each issue was addressed.
DMG Issue #1: The Yankee Gulch Project is a Designated Mining Operation (DMO) as defined
in Rule 1.1(14) requiring that an Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) defined in Rule 1.1(16) be
provided and subjecting the operation to the provisions of Rules 7 and 8.
Resolution: American Soda does not dispute designation as a DMO at this time, and has
provided an EPP. American Soda will provide construction reports and certifications for all
Environmental Protection Facilities, including the solution mining wells, the well field piping,
and evaporation ponds. American Soda wishes to reserve the right, based on ground water and
surface water data that will be accumulated and on additional process solution chemistry to be
collected, to provide a demonstration as described in Rule 7.2.6 and have the designation lifted.
This is acceptable to DMG with the stipulation that any action to remove the designation from
the American Soda operation would require public notice in accordance with Rule 7.2.10.
DMG Issue #2: Ambient ground water quality in the vicinity of the Yankee Gulch Project must
be characterized prior to solution mining (injection of heated mining fluids) under the terms of
the reclamation permit application.