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iAKE~~ ~ <br />PRIDF INS <br />United States Department of the Interior AMERI=~ <br />OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING <br />Reclamation and Enforcement <br />8~ uoAs Tmvrrs <br />1040 15th Strert <br />Denver. Colorado 80204 <br />May 2, 1994 <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Chief, Inspection and Enforcement Branch <br />Albuquerque Field Office <br />FROM: Chief, Physical Sciences Branch <br />Technical Assistance Division <br />~~ <br />~~ <br />~.._....~_~m~ ~ <br />;~., !- .. <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Meeker Mines Phase II Bond Release (C-18-032) <br />Per your request the Hydrology Support Section (HSS) has completed <br />its review of the Meeker Mine phase II bond release. HSS's <br />technical review was based upon Colorado's bonding rule 3.03.1(3)(b) <br />that requires, "No more than sixty (60) percent of the bond (phase <br />II) shall be released so long as the lands to which the release <br />would be applicable are contributing suspended solids to streamflow <br />or runoff outside the permit area in excess of premining levels as <br />determined by baseline data or in excess of levels determined on <br />adjacent nonmined areas:..." To support rule 3.03.1(3){b) the <br />Meeker mine's consultant submitted Universal Soil Loss Equation <br />{USLE) derived standards (premining) and sediment volume <br />computations from sediment-pond surveys. that were presented as <br />representative of reclamation-area sediment yields. Based upon the <br />consultant's July 20, 1993 and October-29, 1993 submittals HSS had <br />concerns regarding: 1) no USLE analysis for postmining conditions, <br />errors in the pond surveys, 2) contribution of sediment delivered to <br />the ponds from the reclaimed areas versus that from unmined areas, <br />and 3) the lack of water quality or quantity data. <br />A meeting was held April 15, 1994 involving the Division of Minerals <br />and Geology (DMG), HSS, and the consultant to discuss the concerns <br />listed above. By the attachzd letter dated April 18, 1994 DMG <br />summarized the meeting discussion and supplied the technical <br />information to address HSS's concerns. Therefore, HSS finds the <br />Meeker mines meet the requirements of Colorado rule 3.03.1(3)(b) for <br />phase II bond release. <br />If you should have any questions regarding this atter, you may <br />contact Joe Wilcox, Hydrologis Hydrol Sup rt Section at (303) <br />844-3515. <br />Michael F. Rosenthal <br />Attachment <br /> <br />