ENFORCE29338 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

iii iiiiiiiiiiiii iii STATE OF COLORADO DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY Deparlmenl of Natural Resources ~~~~~ 1313 Sherman 51., Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203 Phone: (3031 866-3567 FAX. 13031 832-8106 DEPARTMENT OF January 9, 1995 NATURAL RESOURCES Roy Romer Mr. Stephen G. Rathbun Governor Office of Surface Mining Tames S. Lochhead Albuquerque Field Office Executive Direcror 505 Marquette Avenue NW, Suite 1200 Mi<naele.Eons Albuquerque, NM 87102 Div ision Director RE: MSEIR form for November 30, 1994 Meadows Mine Inspection C-81-029 Dear Mr. Rathbun: Enclosed is the MSEIR form for the impoundment related violation cited by DMG at the recent Meadows Mine inspection. I would like to take this opportunity to clarify four points made in the OSM inspection report which was issued following the inspection. 1.) The report indicates a concern with the post-mine topography. The report mentions that approval of the backfilling and grading plan which was implemented ten years ago may not be in compliance with Colorado's program. As you are aware, and as the Division has discussed with the Albuquerque Field Office, the Division is formulating a written AOC policy and hopes to resolve questions of interpretation of this policy with the OSM during the next few months. We believe a number of programmatic questions related to AOC need to be clearly answered prior to any further evaluations of AOC matters by field inspectors, particularly at sites which have already been reclaimed and released from liability associated with backfilling and grading efforts. The AFO has agreed with this approach. 2.) The report indicates the Northwest sediment trap is a sediment pond. As a result of recent permitting and enforcement actions, the Division has required the operator to meet the regulatory requirements for this structure as an impoundment. However. this structure is not a sediment pond. It is a temporary impoundment subject to the regulatory requirements of Rule 4.05.9(2). The structure intercepts disturbed area runoff, reducing the velocity and retaining sediment before the runoff reaches the sediment pond which is directly downhill from the impoundment.