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STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1713 Sherman St., Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 DIVISION O F <br />Phone: 13031 t'66-3567 M L N E RA L S <br />FA%: (3031 872.8106 ~ <br /> GEOLOGY <br /> RECLAMATION <br /> MINING•SAFETY <br />January 10, 2000 <br /> B~II Owens <br />Mr. Pete Aragon, Land Use Adminisvator ~O"ef"Of <br />Lincoln County Greg E. Watcher <br />P.O. BOx 39 Ezecunve Director <br />Hugo, CO 80821 Michael B. Long <br /> Division Director <br />RE: Smith Ranch Pit No. 2 (Permit M-1988-022) Adequacy review ofproposed Technical Revision OOl <br />Dear Mr. Aragon: <br />The Division has received your recently proposed revision of the reclamation plan for the Smith Ranch Pit No. 2. <br />This submittal will, when approved, satisfy the corrective action and date for Compliance Problem 1 identified at <br />the site during the Division's inspection on 10/14/1999. <br />In regard to dle adequacy of the proposed Technical Revision, [he Division haz the following adequacy concerns: <br />1) The County has acknowledged that not enough topsoil has so far been salvaged at the site to provide <br />the currently approved 6 to 8 inches of such material for use in reclaiming current disturbance. The <br />County has, with this Technical Revision, proposed to replace topsoil only to a depth of 3-4 inches in <br />reclaiming the site and, presumably, to salvage at least that much during future operations. Given the <br />characteristics of the area, the Division might accept this even though it reduces the requirements of <br />the reclamation plan, if it was clear that enough topsoil would be available to reclaim current as well <br />as future disturbance. There is, however, no clear plan proposed whereby the Division can be assured <br />that 3 to 4 inches of topsoil will defmitely be available for reclamation of both current and future <br />disturbance when mining at the site is concluded. <br />The County should demonstrate that the volume of topsoil currently stockpiled, if there is any, will <br />provide 3 to 4 inches of cover for the currently disturbed area if the County only intends to salvage 3 <br />to 4 inches of topsoil during future mining operations. Alternatively, the County might commit to <br />salvaging enough extra topsoil, e.g. 6 to 8 inches during future mining operations, and/or importing <br />enough to provide 3 to 4 inches of topsoil for the entire area at the conclusion of the mining operation. <br />The decision date far this Technical Revision isl/2712000. Please respond fully to the above adequacy concern well <br />enough in advance of that date that the Division has time to review the response and consider approval at that time. <br />If you cannot respond by that date, please provide a written waiver of the County's right to a decision on that date <br />in order to avoid a denial of the Technical Revision and to allow the review process to continue. <br />If you have any questions on the above, please contact me. <br />Sincerely, ~+I <br />.,R,~up't~ ~ ~f.L.C <br />James C. Stevens <br />Sr. Specialist <br />