2004-08-19_REVISION - M2000158 - Laserfiche WebLink

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In the original permit it was determined that there were no jurisdictional wetland on the mine site. The Division received correspondence from the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers on April 1, 2001 determining that a 404 permit is not required for the S & H Mine Site. Lining two of the lakes with a slurry wall will not encompass additional acreage, therefore, no wetlands will be affected by the mining operation. On April 23, 2001, Platte Sand & Gravel submitted a Technical Revision (TR) to the application addressing a floodplain control and mitigafion plan. The Division approved the plan on May 22, 2001. The proposed changes to the plan as a result of installing the slurry wall is that the entire slope face on the east/west banks will be armored rather than just a small band at the water line. This is necessary in case the reservoirs aze neazly empty if a flood event occurs. Application Exhibit H -Wildlife Information: 17. "The potential loss of wildlife habitat and delineafion of buffer zones to protect the bald eagle winter roost habitat identified by the Colorado Division of Wildlife in 2001. Please refer to Division of Wildlife environmental specialist Mike Sherman's original reports on this application. These may require significant revision for a proposed dry mining operation." (Bruce Rippe; July 13, 2004) 18. "The South Platte River Corridor contains some of the azea's most valuable wildlife habitat. How will the proposed operation impact the riparian azeas, cottonwood galleries and the river corridor (i.e. what trees will be removed? How will the operator monitor and caze for existing trees to ensure they survive? What measures will be taken to ensure they receive sufficient water? What mitigation measures aze proposed?) The Town is awaze that the river corridor contains Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse and Bald Eagle habitat. What steps has the operator taken to protect these species? Has the Colorado Division of Wildlife reviewed and commented on the mining plan? ('t'own of Milliken; July 14, 2004) 19. "The Town wants to ensure that the riparian corridor and wildlife habitat is ultimately improved by the reclamation plan. We feel it is critical to utilize appropriate native species and to create diverse vegetation that includes groundcover, mid-story and canopy species. What is the planting plan and how will it achieve these goals?" (Town of Milliken; July 14, 2004) Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG) Responses- The wildlife habitat azea as defined in the original permit application will not be disturbed by the mining operation or by the addition of slurry walls. This includes undisturbed azeas along the river that aze designated wildlife habitat. In the original application, the applicant states that very few trees or shrubs will be removed by mining and none will be removed in the wildlife habitat azeas. lrr addition, the applicant has worked with the Division of Wildlife ("DOW'S and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to address buffer distances regazding the eagle roost habitat. No mining will take place inside the buffer during the period November I to Mazch 1. In a protected species study performed by ERO Resources in 2000, the study indicated that the azea to be disturbed is not Preble's mouse habitat, and this was confirmed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 2001. Platte Sand & Gravel has committed to protecting the trees located north of the slurry wall. The trees aze relatively close to the river, so impacts will be minimal. However, the operator has agreed to insta114 monitoring wells between the river and the line azeas to monitor the groundwater levels. Monitoring data will be collected monthly until one yeaz after the first sluny wall as been built, and quarterly after that. Groundwater information will be correlated with the river flow by obtaining stream flow numbers from a local gaging station. Platte Sand & Gravel will include Bound water monitoring data with its annual report to the Division. In the event there is a significant drop (2 feet or more) in the water table caused by the slurry wall liner, a rechazge _ ditch will be installed along the west side of the liner and irrigation water will be diverted to it to rechazge the - azea azound the trees. This will only be done during the growing season and once a month during the winter. Application Exhibit N -Source of Legal Right to Enter: "The legal right to enter with respect to future exploration and development of oil and gas leases." (Bruce Rippe; 6