REV102981 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Mr. ]amen R Stark Cahrado Divirian ofMinemlr d7 Geology Augurt 7, 2002 Page 6 Response: All applicable records for the Southfield Mine operation will be located at the following address: Enezgy Fuels Coal, Inc. 115 East Main Street -Suite 10 Florence, Colorado 81226 Phone: (719) 7846395 The mine entry sign has been modified to reflect the new office address. Miscellaneous Comment 21-This comment was previously addressed in the TR-33 submittal. Comment 22 -Since the Loadout has been reclaimed and reseeded and has entered the period of extended liability, with reseerG'ng being done in the rpring of 1999, please resolve Stipulation 4. Response: Stipulation 4 addresses sampling of soils in the portion of the West Loadout Area falling within the AVF boundary and comparison of soil properties with a sitnilaz adjacent undisturbed area to verify that key soli properties aze compatible with potential flood irrigation. EFCI is requesting that the CDMG reconsider whether imposition of and compliance with Stipulation 4 is necessary or appropriate given that; 1) There is very little or no potential that this area would ever be flood irrigated in the future; and 2) That a change to industrial postmining land use is proposed (refer to the response to Comment 28), consistent with present uses by the primary landowner. The original land use documentation (Sections 2.04.3 and 2.05.5) and AVF evaluation (Kaman Tempo, 1983 -Exhibit 24, Alluvial Valley Floor Investigations) indicates that the subject azea had been previously used as undeveloped rangeland in fau to poor condition and that this area had not previously been flood irrigated. The approved postminiug land use (refer to Section 2.05.5) fox this azea is rangeland/wildlife habitat. Any potential for future flood irrigation would be limited by several significant Factors including; 1) Size and configuration; 2) Existing boundary conditions; 3) Proximate land uses; and 4) Water availability. The subject area is relatively small (9.9 acres) and is bounded on the southeast by the existing railroad right- of-way and rail spur, and on the north and northeast by County Road 79. A portion of this azea is well above (approximately 25 to 40 feet) the nearby Oak Creek stream channel and is irregulaz with moderate sideslopes which would not be compatible with flood irrigation (Kaman Tempo, 1983). The portion of the subject area that would potentially be flood imgable is limited to approximately S acres, of which approximately 1.6 acres is the existing railroad right-of--way and rail spur, further reducing the potentially useable irrigable land to approximately 3.4 acres (refer to Map 2, Loadout Area Surface Ownership, and Map 13, Loadout Area Surface and Groundwater Hydrology). The original AVF evaluation did not address the utility or significance of this azea to potential farming, however, the boundary conditions (i.e.: County road and railroad) and limited irrigable land area would appeaz to be significant limitations relative to suitability and utility for potential farming. Immediately proximate land uses aze rangeland {west and north) and rangeland/industrial (east). Use of the subject azea fox irrigated farming would not, therefore, be compatible with adjacent land uses and this area could not reasonably be operated as a unit of a larger irrigated farttung operation. No water appropriation exists for this area, and the entire Arkansas River Basin is presently over- appropriated. It is doubtful that water rights could be obtained for flood irrigation of the subject azea. Water could be shifted under an existing appropriation, however, shifting of water from an existing appropriated use