2004-08-19_REVISION - M2000158 - Laserfiche WebLink

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According to the initial mining plan, Platte Sand & Gravel will not mine closer than 222 feet from the Historical Monument, and will work with the Platteville Historical Society to preserve as much of the azea as possible. A letter from the Platteville Historical Society dated February 16, 2001 states that the site will be preserved. In addition, the Platteville Historical Society studied sites SWL087 and SW814 and determined that the mining set backs aze sufficient to protect the sites and the road leading into the sites. According to the Operator, the landowners (Platte River Ranch) have been working with the Platteville Historical Society to preserve the Old Fort St. Vrain site north of WCR 40. The site has recently been fenced, cleaned and enhanced and will not be disturbed by mining. Construction of the slurry wall does not encompass additional acres around historical strucnrres, therefore no changes to the approved mining distance aze proposed. ISSUES RAISED AFTER THE INITL4L COMMENT PERIOD 23, "We highly recommend the installation of numerous monitoring wells along the South Platte River within the wetland complex and the pre-mining monitoring occur as well as monitoring during the mining operation and pos-mining monitoring. Such monitoring will allow for the long-term health and vigor of this wetland complex...the proposed project does have the potential to negatively impact wildlife or wildlife habitat. The proposed proj ect is located within a continuous three mile wetland complex along the South Platte River and is surrounded by agricultural land. This complex includes Lush wetland and riparian habitat and is know to be of extremely high value as wildlife habitat. We have concerns that the constructed slurry wall(s) may alter groundwater flow in the azea between the proposed post-mining reservoirs and the South Platte River and thus negatively impact the abovementioned vegetation complex. This complex includes many mature cottonwood trees including those used by Bald eagles as a winter roost site." (Division of Wildlife; August 5, 2004) Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG) Responses- 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 install 4 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 slurry 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 ground water moritoring 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. ISSUES RAISED DURING THE INITIAL COMMENT PERIOD THAT TAE DIVISION BELIEVES ARE NOT WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE DIVISION OR BOARD 1. "The Town is concerned that the applicant has not finalized the road Maintenance Agreement with the County. This is a violation of the Annexation and Development Agreement that the operator entered into with the Town of Milliken on January 22, 2003. Further it is the Town's understanding that the operation has not received final approval from the Milliken Fire Protection District " (Town of Milliken; July 14, 2004)