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ENFORCE31823
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ENFORCE31823
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Last modified
8/24/2016 7:43:11 PM
Creation date
11/21/2007 1:07:00 PM
Metadata
Fields
Template:
DRMS Permit Index
Permit No
M1977310
IBM Index Class Name
Enforcement
Doc Date
8/17/2007
Doc Name
Appellants Brief
From
MLRB
To
CO Environmental Coalition & the SAn Juan Citizens Alliance
Media Type
D
Archive
No
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B. The Board Should Adopt the Division's Factual Findings and Reinstate the <br />July 25, 2005 Determination that the SM-18 is a DMO <br />The DRMS's July 25, 2005 Notice of Determination clearly and correctly states that SM-18 <br />Mine meets the criteria for a DMO. The July 25, 2005 DRMS determination was based on <br />Synthetic Precipitate Leachate Procedure ("SPLP") tests on waste rock and ore samples from the <br />SM-18 Mine. <br />The July 25, 2005 DMO Determination was also based on numerous DRMS inspections of <br />operational conditions conducted in early 2005 that analyzed surface conditions, restart <br />conditions, and actual mining operations. The SPLP tests and site investigations confirmed the <br />presence, exposure, and disturbance of toxic and acid forming materials at the SM-18 mine that <br />could adversely effect human health, property or the environment. At that point, the DMO <br />standard was satisfied. C.R.S. § 34-32-103(3.5)(a)(II), C.R.S. § 34-32-112.5(2). <br />The SPLP test further confirmed that not only were the DMO standards satisfied, these materials <br />exceed applicable water quality permitting pazameters. In particular, the SPLP tests demonstrated <br />the SM-18 Mine has a potential to release Aluminum, Lead, Selenium, Uranium, and Zinc in <br />excess of water quality permitting standards. The fact that the quantities of these "toxic or acidic <br />materials" threaten to exceed water quality permitting standards further confirms that SM-18 is a <br />DMO pursuant to C.R.S. § 34-32-103(3.5)(a)(II) that requires preparation, inter alia, of an EPP. <br />The subsequent October 5, 2005 DRMS inspection revealed full production, 50 tons of ore <br />stockpiled adjacent to a county road, and trucks hauling materials to the dump. An inspection <br />report in the mine file, issued after the DRMS's reversal of its DMO finding and dated Apri15, <br />2006, indicates that active mining has "halted again for the near future." <br />The MLRA and the HRMM rules are consistent with the initial and correct DRMS finding based <br />on the well-established principle that the determination of exempt status is only for mines <br />showing no potential to adversely affect human health, property, or the environment (including <br />groundwater). The existing presence and anticipated increase in acid forming and toxic materials <br />upon restart of active mining activities at the SM-18 Mine has not been disputed. The DRMS's <br />March 2006, reversal of it initial July 25, 2005 DMO determination contrary to law and is <br />contradicted by the file itself. The March 2006, reversal does not address the relevant legal <br />standards nor the fu]] range of facts upon which the original DMO finding was made on July 25, <br />2005. On this basis alone, Appellants request to reinstate the July, 2005 DMO finding should <br />prevail. <br />Here, there is no dispute that toxic and acid-forming materials have been and will be exposed and <br />disturbed at the SM-18 uranium mine as a result of past mining, current conditions, and planned <br />mining operations. The July 25, 2005 Notice of Determination clearly and unambiguously states <br />that the mines meet the criteria for a DMO: "Mining will expose or disturb acid or toxic forming <br />materials from the SM-18 ore and waste rock." <br />13 <br />
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