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<br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Depanmern of Nawral Resources <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215 <br />Denrer, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone: 1303) 866-3567 <br />FA%: 13031 83 2-81 06 <br />May 12, 1997 <br />iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />nEN~r~R <br />~1~ ~-1rj~ <br />~~~~~ <br />DEPARTMENT OF <br />NATURAL <br />RESOURCES <br />Roy Romer <br />Governor <br />Lawrence Shaver IamesS Lochhead <br />Rio Grande County Road Department ( / r>,ecnrve oveaor <br />P. O. Box 46 P~`lC ~~~(-_p(~/ MKhael B. long <br />Monte Vista, Colorado 81144 I~ 17 Division Direcbr <br />RE: 10 Miles South Pit, Permit No. M-78-066, onversion No. 1 (CN-001) Adequacy Review <br />Dear Mr. Shaver: <br />The Division has reviewed Rio Grande County's application to convert the 10 Miles South Pit to a 1 12 <br />operation. The following details will need to be addressed for this application to be approved. Please <br />respond to these items as soon as possible so the decision on this conversion application can be <br />rendered by the new due date of June 16, 1997. <br />Adeguacy Comments <br />The application form indicates a change in acreage from 9 to 15 acres for this conversion. <br />However, in our discussions, and as shown on the conversion application map, the proposed <br />larger site is approximately 26.5 acres in size, and the current pit is approximately 1 5 acres in <br />size. Please clarify this discrepancy and supply corrected application forms, if necessary.\ <br />2. Rio Grande County is commended for self-reporting their mining operation which apparently <br />exceeded the approved 8 acre permit area. The apparent infraction does not exist. Review of <br />the original M-78-066 permit application indicates that the historic Highway Department gravel <br />pit that existed at this location was 17 acres in size. That information, coupled with the recent <br />inspection which observed that recent activity at the pit did not appear to disturb more than <br />9 acres, indicates that the large size of this pit is due to historic mining for which Rio Grande <br />County should not be held liable. The revised permit area, proposed by this conversion, clarifies <br />any gray area concerning this matter by incorporating all disturbance, historic and recent, into <br />this permit. <br />3. Foc„,operations with apost-mining land use of rangeland and wildlife habitat, the proposed 2:1 <br />pit slopes are too steep. 3:1 slopes are the maximum recommended for use by wildlife and <br />livestock. Additionally, revegetation of 3:1 slopes has proven more successful than 2:1 slope <br />revegetation efforts. Please commit to reclaimed slopes of grade no steeper than 3:1 and revise <br />the reclamation map accordingly. <br />4. It is understood that aquifer groundwater in the pit area is 200 feet down, and that the pit depth <br />will be limited by water levels encountered during irrigation of adjacent fields. If Rio grande <br />County intends to store fuel, hydraulic fluid, antifreeze, or other hazardous materials in this pit <br />during operation, please commit to utilizing proper spill containment to protect this water <br />resource. Please submit proposed containment to be utilized, if applicable. <br />