2007-06-19_REVISION - M1986015 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Page 2 Adequacy Response Letter Pueblo East Pit June 19, 2007 turbulence. With the streambank strengthening proposed, the barrier berm would not need to be large ox particularly strong. As fax as bonding is concerned, the material contained in this berm would eventually be taken to Phase 1 for backfilling ox simply pushed down over the fmished slopes of Phase 2. In the event a party who desired to use the site fox a reservoir wished to maintain (or strengthen) the berm then that would be their option after release of the site through either a succession of operator, full release upon completion of the reclamation, ox some other mechanism. If the altematve revegetation plan was implemented for Phase 2 then this berm would not likely be removed as it would provide some protection for the unfilled pit that would remain in that option. 5. Item II E - I think there is a misunderstanding here. Your quote from the plan is incomplete. The actual wording is "Gradual backfilling of the initial mining area in Phase 2 will use a mixture of ..." (Italics indicate the missing portion of your quotation.) The only area in Phase 2 that will be backfllled will be the small initial mining area in the northeast corner and outside of the slurry wall. No other backfilling will occur in Phase 2. Your observation that the Emal pit slopes will be mined to a 3:1 ox less steep grade is correct, but that does not apply in the initial mining area except on the south wall of that area which will be adjacent to the slurry wall. This area would ultimately be reclaimed similar to Phase 1. 6. Item II F - This was very interesting. I am not sure what happened. Somehow the hatch patterns that were actually printed are different from the ones that axe shown in the file I think we used in printing. But it is possible I mistakenly printed an earlier uncorrected version. A new version of this map is provided. 7. Item III A - See response in 5 above. I think this clears up the confusion. 8. Item III B - As described on pages 17 and 18 of the reclamation plan, the alternative revegetation plan is implemented in Phase 2 onlyif the reservoir is not implemented when the pit is completed and all the slopes are finished. Keep in mind that Continental Materials will not be implementing the reservoir option. The plan is to only create the vessel fox the reservoir with the view that another parry would use the site as a reservoir. Already there has been interest expressed by others for a reservoir at this location, but most of these parties are not interested in the site in an unsealed condition which would require them to install a slurry wall. The altematve revegetation only applies to the situation where, at the end of the physical reclamation process, there is no other party available to actually produce the reservoir (fill the vessel). In that case, the site would be revegetated with the alternative plan and maintained in that condition until someone is ready to Fill the vessel with water and thereby create the reservoir. This is virtually identical to the plan that was approved about 10 years ago fox the portion of the Pueblo West Pit north of the Arkansas River. Also, please note that on page 4 of the reclamation cost calculations (Exhibit L) the reclamation cost includes seeding the entire reservoir area under the assumption that nobody will be available at the conclusion of the reclamation to actually fill the basin. That is not likely, but that is the way the costs are determined because at this time the alternative revegetation plan is the only option that is assured. 9. Item III A - As stated in 8 above, Continental Materials will not actually be creating the tilled reservoir. However, there are sufficient water rights available to cover evaporative losses from groundwater seepage into the sealed pit if the alternative revegetation plan needs to be implemented.