2006-06-09_REVISION - M1977342

• Permit No: M1977342
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 6/9/2006
• Doc Name: Mined Land Reclamation Permit Summary
• From: DRMS
• To: Climax Molybdenum Company
• Type & Sequence: AM5
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
Department of Nafural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203 /jG /).
~ C O L O R A D O
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Phone: [phone]
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FAX: [phone] ~ .e~ ~~
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SAFETY
' Bill Owens
June 9, 2006 (~ Governor
Russell George
D1Ck PCOpernlCk Executive Director
Climax Molybdenum Company / Ronald W. Cottony
P
Box 68
O Division Director
.
. Natural Resource Trustee
Empire, CO 80438

RE: Mined Land Reclamation Permit Summary, Climax Molybdenum Company,
Henderson Mine and Mill, Permit No. M-1977-342
Dear Mr. Propernick:
What follows is a summary of the Henderson permit prepared by the Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG):
The Henderson Mine and Mill operate under Permit No. M-1977-342 issued by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation
Board. The underground mine and associated surface support facilities are located in Clear Creek County near the town
of Empire. Ore from the underground mine is conveyed through a tunnel beneath the continental divide to the
concentrating mill located near Ute Pass in Grand County.
The largest surface disturbances to be reclaimed following completion of the mining operation are located at the milling
facility in Grand County. At this location, the milling infrastructure that includes the mill building, office facilities, and
other ancillary structures will be demolished and the affected land returned to rangeland. The mill tailings impoundment
will also be reclaimed to rangeland.
At the mine site located in Clear Creek County, the currently approved reclamation plan provides for a post mining land
use including a mix of rangeland and industriaUcommercial use. In 2003, the Mined Land Reclamation Board approved
Amendment No. Four to the permit allowing certain facilities at the mine site to remain in the post mine setting for use as
industrial/commercial buildings. The facilities that can remain under the current approved permit are the
Shop/Warehouse Building and the Office Building. These facilities are attractive for beneficial post mining land use due
to their high quality construction, ease of access, existing parking, potable water and sewage systems, electricity, natural
gas, and fiber optic systems. The Clear Creek County Board of Commissioners supports the retention of these facilities
following the conclusion of mining.
The DMG is currently considering Amendment No. Five to the permit, which was submitted by the Operator on May 12,
2006. This permit amendment, if and when it is approved, would allow the alternative of the Deep Underground Science
and Engineering Laboratory (OUSEL) as a beneficial post mining land use. If the OUSEL is constructed at Henderson it
is anticipated that construction of the underground laboratory chambers could proceed concurrently with mining
operations, subject to coordination agreements between Henderson and OUSEL. Blasted development rock from the
OUSEL chambers could be transported via ore conveyors to the milling facility in Grand County for disposal into the
exisfing tailing impoundment. Once the ore body is exhausted at the Henderson Mine, the OUSEL would continue to use
and operate the mine access and ventilation shafts, and use most of the other mine facilities currently present at the
surface. Once and if Amendment No. Five to the permit is approved, there would be no necessity for OUSEL to ever
have to be permitted by the Mined Land Reclamation Board, as their operations would not be considered mining, but
rather would be a beneficial long term use of a previously mined location.
Office of Office of
Mined Land Reclamation Active and Inactive Mines