REV102110

• Permit No: M1994113
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 7/31/2000
• Doc Name: PATHFINDER PIT PN M-1994-113 YOUR LETTERS OF CONCEN
• From: DMG
• To: MARCIA EWELL
• Type & Sequence: TR2
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

__ ~T~T~ _ ~ COLORADO
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1 DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
,' Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St.. Roam 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FA%: [phone]
July 27, 2000
Ms. Marcia Ewell
P. O. Box 1492
Telluride, Colorado 81435
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DIVISION OF
MINERALS
GEOLOGY
RECLAMATION
MINING•SAFETY
I
wens
ernor
Greg E. Walther
Execmive Direuor
RE: Pathfinder Pit, Permit No. M-1994-113, Your Letters of Concern Poio9 0~~~~ oi~e ~o.
Dear Ms. Ewell:
The Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG) received your July 7, 2000 letter of concern, your
July 13, 2000 request for documents, your July 26, 2000 reminder about the previous request
for documents, and your July 26, 2000 request for the deadline date and/or process for
submitting written public comment at the formal public hearing, regarding the Pathfinder Pit.
DMG's response to each of these items is listed below.
Response to July 7, 2000 Letter of Concern
DMG conducted an inspection of the Pathfinder Pit on July 11, 2000 in response to your written
complaint. DMG has verified that the Pathfinder Pit is in operation and that the material from the
site is being removed from the site in ten yard dump trucks utilizing the access road that crosses
the fill where the penstock repairs were conducted in fall of 1997. Pathfinder Development, Inc.
(Pathfinder) has received a letter from DMG indicating that DMG has reason to believe a violation
exists at the site. This matter has been scheduled for a formal public hearing before the Mined
Land Reclamation Board (Board) at their August 23-24, 2000 meeting.
• Allegation that recent dumping and wetland infringement is occurring: Recent dumping has
occurred on top of the east section of the access road across the fill where the penstock was
repaired in fall of 1997, but no wetland infringement related to that dumping was noted and
the depth of that additional fill averages approximately 1-1.5 feet, not the 3-4 feet stated in
your letter. Pathfinder has been notified that they must submit a notice to DMG, as required
by Rule 3.1.5(9). for each past and future occurrence of impartation of structural fill, where
the fill is to be used as permanent backfill within the Pathfinder Pit permit area. Pathfinder has
been notified that any proposed actions to stabilize this fill should be addressed by a revision
to Permit No. M-1994-1 13 prior to initiation of the work. This issue will be addressed by the
Board hearing mentioned above.
• Application of magnesium chloride for dust suppression is a common practice at gravel pit
sites and is encouraged.
• The requirement for covering loads being transported on highways is not an issue under DMG
jurisdiction. Comments regarding this problem should be directed to the Colorado Department
of Transportation or the Colorado State Patrol.