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and rainfall could be a likely source of water infiltration through the dumps, which <br />would move metals into Windy Gulch. <br />Six inches of topsoil on the 9700 level dump may be sufficient to control infiltration, <br />if good vegetative cover is established. However, we wonder about the success of <br />getting 6 inches of cover across the whole dump, given the steepness of dump slopes. <br />Infiltration is less of a concern on these steeper slopes, but erosion of metal laden <br />sediments into Windy Gulch is a greater concern. Both infhration through the dumps <br />and erosion of dump material should be dealt with in the reclamation plan. <br />No cover is provided for the 9360 level dump with this reclamation plan. Again it <br />would be very difficult to get a cover on the steep slope above Windy Gulch. There <br />is also very little, to no cover on the rest of the 9360 dump. <br />The overflow channels aze an important component to handle the less frequent storm <br />event flows, but we would recommend that an impervious liner be considered to <br />minimize infiltration of water from these flood flows. Should pipes get plugged or <br />collapse in the future, much more water than is anticipated now could move through <br />the overflow channels. <br />We also noticed the lack ofrun-on controls to prevent runoff from flowing onto the <br />dumps. The Committee has considered this a routine component for other mine sites <br />in the watershed. <br />3) Maintenance <br />Maintenance of these ficilities will be required over the long-term Pipes that aze <br />constructed several hundred feet through the dumps will eventually require some <br />maintenance. We understand that the existing pipe in the 9360 dump is either <br />plugged or collapsed at this time. Surface coverings of the dumps may become <br />eroded over time. A means of accomplishing long-term maintenance of work <br />performed now, should be addressed and included in the reclamation plan. <br />4) Performance Standards <br />There is enough uncertainty about whether proposed reclamation will be successful <br />that the Committee would like to encourage the establishment of performance <br />standards. After talking with the State Division of Minerals and Geology and the <br />State Department of Health, we would like to make a proposal The segment of <br />Willow Creek that includes Windy Gulch has designated beneficial uses of <br />agriculture and Class 2 recreation. Performance standazds then could be defined by <br />the water quality standazds for those uses. For example, agricultural use has a <br />standazd of 2000 micrograms per liter for total recoverable zinc. Phil Hageman, with <br />the Colorado Department of Health (phone 303-692-3518) suggested that we use this <br />approach. <br />