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Mr. Bob Oswald • <br />June 29, 1999 <br />Page 2 of 4 <br />4. The mine site soil conditions are described and contained in File M-77-287; soil is <br />approximately 50% Pinion soils and 35% Torriorthents, 5% Clovis soils, 5% <br />unnamed 30 soils and about 5% rock outcrop. <br />5. All structures at the mine site are owned by IUSA or IUC Colorado Plateau and <br />will be removed during the reclamation process. Each structure was <br />photographed, reviewed, described, measured and recorded by CDMG <br />representative, Mr. Bob Oswald, during the January 13, 1999 pre-operation and <br />new permit application site inspection. <br />6. The mine site (disturbed area) is relatively flay laying and surface water (rainfall <br />and snowmelt) will be contained within the permit area. Shallow drainage control <br />ditches are constntcted around the site and designed to direct any up gradient <br />runoff around or away from the permit area. (Review CDMG January 13, 1999, <br />site inspection report). <br />7. The side slope gradient of the waste rock pad during mining will be <br />approximately 1.5:1 and set back approximately 10 feet from the perimeter of the <br />permit boundary. <br />8. This response addresses both the CDMG question asking for a description of how <br />fuel, tube, antifreeze, etc. are to be stored at the site, as well as Montrose County's <br />question as to whether (I) designated chemicals, acid or toxic-forming chemicals <br />would be used on the site; (2) whether or not mining could result in uncontrolled <br />radioactive contamination that could be a potential public health risk; and (3) <br />whether the site should be a DMO. Section 34-32-112.5(2) of the Colorado <br />Mines Land Reclamation act provides that the Board shall exempt operations <br />from designation (as Designated Mining Operations, or "DMO") if "acid- or <br />toxic-producing materials will not be used, stored, or disturbed in grrarrlilies <br />sr fficienl !n ndrersely cffecl nny perswr, cury pr•nperly, or the enviraunen! ". The <br />definition of acid producing or toxic producing materials in Rule I relates to <br />materials that contain "detrimental amounts of chemical constituents such as <br />acids, bases or metallic compounds". Acid or toxic-forming materials are not <br />exposed or disturbed at the Van 4 Mine properties in quantities sufficient to <br />adversely affect human Health, property, or the environment. in terms of potential <br />acid generation concerns, the host rock for ore at the mines is primarily <br />sandstones of the Salt Wash member of the Morrison formation. These <br />sandstones are not acid formers. Accordingly, any small volumes of waste rock <br />left from development and mining operations will also consist of sandstone with <br />little, if any, concentrations of the various types of sulfur or other constituents <br />associated with acid rock generation. Further, there is no drainage of water to the <br />surface from the mines, and the disturbed area is only 8.4 acres, an area exempt <br />from DMO designation. Finally, those limited quantities of diesel fuel, oil, <br />