1996-07-24_REVISION - M1981302 (3)

Home Browse Search

- � IIIIIIIIIIIIII �999 IIIII July 15, 1996 WED The Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board JUL 2 4 1996 c/o Division of Minerals and Geology Division of 10uneraK& beoiogy 1313 Sherman St., Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203 Dear Mined Land Reclamation Board: I am writing about the permitting for the Deepe Pit (M-81-302) and the Turnpike Pit (M-78-064) in south Boulder. There are violations and problems with these operations. Please list me to be officially notified by DMG of hearings and actions on these permits. I am concerned about certain earthmoving that requires immediate attention. A consultant to C.U., Nancy Love, stated on 7/11/96 that Western-Mobile is digging a channel within the pit and heightening the "flood-control" levee. The County has not issued a permit for this construction. Isn't such construction in violation of MLR policy? Public health and safety are at issue. This levee was initially built specifically for "flood-protecting" the mining operation and would be DMG "affected land", the County approved the levee only for protection of open uses, and the land is zoned enlq for open uses. However, the current owner wants to sell the land for intensive development and the dike provides an illusion of flood protection. The dike in fact does not meet current FEMA standards and the last FEMA map excluding all of these pits from the floodplain was in error. The levee has important floodplain effects and should be permitted through the DMG process. Another critical issue is that the 1989 amendment for M-81-302 contains no commitment to spread topsoil by the mine operators. Topsoil is legally required, there is clear evidence that there were at least 8" topsoil at the Deepe Pit pre-mining, and topsoil is needed to achieve the required future DMG land use of agriculture and wildlife habitat. Topsoil is also needed to comply with local zoning (agriculture and open space). Western- Mobile should be required to topsoil the Deepe Pit to a depth of 6-8 inches. Other Issues: 1) Time is past overdue for updating the bond for M-81-302, and the bond needs to include the topsoiling costs. 2) Where is the groundwater monitoring data that was required in 1989? 3) Are noxious weeds under control? 4) Where are the reclamation plans for the processing site? Yours truly, _ F'_ t r �. -'�` T + y, •� •1. .:q. nary,.