2003-05-29_REVISION - M1977342

• Permit No: M1977342
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 5/29/2003
• Doc Name: Notes from the Pre-Hearing Conference
• From: DMG
• To: File
• Type & Sequence: AM4
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone] , /
DATE: May 29, 2003 "
TO: File No. M-1977-342
FROM: Allen Sorenson ~~
RE: Notes from the Pre-Hearing Conference, Climax Molybdenum Company,
~lenderson Mine and Mill, Amendmen AM-O~ermit No. M-1977-342
COLORADO
DIVISION O F
MIN&RALS
GEOLOGY
RECLAMATION•MINING
SAf ETY•SCIE NCE
Bill Owens
Governor
Greg E. Walther
Executive Director
Ronald W. Cattany
Division Director
Natural Resource Trustee
Henderson filed the application for amendment AM-04 on 1-14-03. Both the Grand County
Commissioners and the US Forest Service filed written comments on the application, both entities
raising the same two concerns:
1. That the proposal fora "wet cover" reclamation of the tailings impoundment was premature,
and that the current "dry cover" reclamation plan should remain in place and bonded until
such time that the details of wet cover are reviewed and approved through the amendment
process. In a letter dated Mazch 7, 2003, Henderson agreed that the details for a wet cover
plan will be provided at some future date as a permit amendment and that until such an
amendment is approved, the dry cover plan will remain as the bonded permit requirement
for reclamation.
2. That the proposal to reduce the tree and shrub planting rates in areas outside the tailing
impoundment was unacceptable to both Grand County and the Forest Service. In the March
7, 2003 letter, Henderson agreed to implement the tree and shrub planting plan that was
approved in 1978 at the time of issuance of the original reclamation permit. The only area
that would be subject to a new tree and shrub plan would be the tailing impoundment where
"tree islands" would be constructed using a minimum of three feet of soil cover over the
tailing surface.
A Pre-Hearing Conference was held at the Grand County Courthouse on May 20, 2003 to discuss
these issues and Henderson's proposed resolutions. A list of participants is enclosed with this
memo. The Conference proceeded essentially by going through the Division of Minerals and
Geology (DMG) summary of the amendment application dated May 14, 2003. Through discussion
of the issues listed in the summary, bot1T Grand County and the Forest Service agreed that their
concerns were satisfied, and that a Hearing before the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Boazd
was unnecessary.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) participated in the Conference; DOW staffer Mike
Crosby raised the following two issues:
When the wet cover plan is submitted as a future permit amendment, the long term quality
of the water to be impounded must be sufficiently analyzed and understood, particulazly as it
Office of Office of Colorado
Mined Land Reclamation Active and Inactive Mines Geological Survey