REV96630 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

,~ iiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiii ~ STATE OF COLORADO ~~~`~~ ~ O~R4b Roy Romer, Governor DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ~~ ~q DIVISION OF WILDLIFE `roF~ AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER For ~ldllfe- PerrY D. Oleon, Director For People 6060 6roadway Denver, Colorado 60216 Telephone: 13051 297-1 t92 151 E. 16th St. October 24, 1995 Received Durango, CO 81301 1970) 247-0855 OCT 2 6 1995 Tom Gillis Bureau of Mined Land Reclamation Division of Minerals and Geology Durango Field Offic9 1474 Main Avenue, Room 223 Division of Minerals S Geology Durango, CO 81301 RE: 110d Designated Mining Operation to 110(2) Reclamation Permit Conversion Applicafion Gonversion: Mine Development Inc., Neglected Mine, File No. M-81-165 Dear Tom, The Colorado Division of Wildlife has reviewed the application, visited the site and would like to offer the following comments for your consideration. The applicant plans to convert the present milling process (cyanide leaching) used in Neglected Mine to a method that is environmentally safe (fiotafion). We compliment the applicant on his efforts to make the area safe for wildlife and humans, and to protect the environment. The Division of Wildlife is concerned about the use of hazardous chemicals, by underground mines, in close proximity of wildlife habitat and water resources. Hazardous chemicals coukl seriously impact aquatic systems and water quality if they were ever released into water systems. With this in mind, The Division of Wildlife is especially concerned about the quality of water that flows along the mine into Junction Creek. The Division of Wildlife uses water from Junction Creek to operate its fish hatchery in Durango. The hatchery needs to have water of high quality running throughout its system at all times for successful operation and fsh survival. Any hazardous chemicals spilled upstream will impact everything downstream, including the fish hatchery. As stated before, we are inspired by the applicant's effort to protect the natural resources and encouraged other underground mines to follow in the same manner. We also encourage the applicant to continue his ongoing reclamation on the site. Even though the area will be reclaimed as rangeland, wildlife will a~ntinue to use the area once the mining operation is complete. This project was reviewed by Melody Miller. Any additional correspondence or questions should be directed to her at the Colorado Division of Wildlife, 151 East 16th SUeet, Durango, CO, 81301 or (970) 247-0855. The Colorado Division of Wildlife appreciates the opportunity to comment on this project and welcomes the opportunity to comment on any project concerning wildlife and its habitat. 3rr B~lar~r Senior Wildlife Biologist cc: Clark Zgainer Tucker DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, James S. Lochhead, Executive Director WILDLIFE COMMISSION, AmoN1 Salazar, Chairman • Rehecp L. Frank, V"~ce-Chairman • Mark Le Valley, Secretary • John Stulp, Member Thomas M. Eve, Member • Jesse Wngston Boyd, Jr., Member • 1Mtliam R. Hegberg, Member • Louis F.Swill, Member