2003-05-27_REVISION - M1977342

• Permit No: M1977342
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 5/27/2003
• Doc Name: USFS withdraws objection
• From: Forest Service Sulfur Ranger District
• To: DMG
• Type & Sequence: AM4
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Pte'"- United States Forest Sulphur 9 Ten Mile Drive
~ ~ Department of Service Ranger District P.O. Box 10
Agriculture Granby, CO 80446
RECE~'VEp Voice: [phone] TDD: [phone]
G Web: www.fs.fed.us/r2/arnf
Fax: [phone]
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File Code: 2720-2-1
pivisina of Minerals and Geology Date: ,-` ~,, ~
t~ ~,a~.. _ ~..,
Sandra L. Brown
Senior Environmental Protection Specialist
State of Colorado-Devision of Minerals and Geology
1313 Sherman Street, Room 215
Denver, CO 80203
Dear Ms. Brown:
Thank you for your letter of May 14, 2003, responding to Forest Service concerns pertaining to
the Henderson Mine and Mill Reclamation Permit Amendment AM-04. In my letter of March
10, 2003, comments were provided on two sections of the proposed amendment: 1) Proposal to
reclaim the tailing impoundment using a wet cover, rather than the dry cover currently required
by the reclamation plan, and 2) Change in post-mining land use.
Your 5/14/03 letter, as well as presentations at the pre-hearing conference held in Hot Sulphur
Springs on May 20, 2003, addressed both of those concerns in the following manner:
1. Section 2.4-Change in Reclamation Plan and Post-mining Land Use at the Tailings
Impoundment: Conceptual Alternative: The wet cover reclamation proposal was only
conceptual in nature. Until designs addressing the engineering and hydrologic issues
involved in a wet cover reclamation project are prepared by Henderson, and reviewed and
accepted by the Division of Minerals and Geology, there is no assurance that the project
will be implemented or even feasible. Therefore, at [his time, the wet cover proposal is
being deferred, and Henderson will be required [o implement the dry cover plan until
such time as a wet cover plan may be approved and properly bonded. Consideration of a
wet cover plan will be through the permit amendment process, including public notice
and comment opportunity, in which the Forest Services will be included. At such time
that Henderson proposes a wet cover process in the future, the Forest Service requests
that adequate scientific data be provided to the Forest Service for evaluation of the
process. The materials submitted in the proposed amendment dated January I5, 2003,
did not provide adequate information about the wet cover proposal. At this time, this
issue is resolved to the satisfaction of the Forest Service
2. Section 2.2-Change in General Post-mining Land Use: Henderson's reclamation plan for
tree and shrub planting will remain unchanged under the under the proposed amendment
for all areas of the affected land with the exception of the tailing impoundment. The
tailing impoundment will be revegetated to grass and forbs, and tree and shrub islands
will be established. Tree island size and spacing will be based on adequate spacing for
small mammals. Although Henderson still wishes to change the land use designation
from Open Forest to Rangeland, the stocking plan will remain at the Climax Forest
Management Plan stocking level of 400-435 trees per acre. Henderson's commitment to
L~
Caring for the Land and Serving People Prinredon Recygetl Paper 1~