Laserfiche WebLink
t <br />r <br />However, that being said, I would like to proceed on to the second meeting topic; the issue dealing with <br />Colorado Marble's legal right of entry over the NFS fractions contained within the company's <br />proposal(s). The Forest Service feels that it is prepared to allow Colorado Marble or its authorized <br />operator to conduct its planned mineralogical activities on the NFS lands identified within the "Lilly <br />Mine" area, provided that the additional environmental analyses mentioned above do not reveal any <br />extraordinary circumstances that cannot be mitigated for. In addition to granting the company and its <br />authorized operator access over the NFS ]ands to proceed with the proposed mining activities, the PSICC <br />Lands Program staff at the Supervisor's Office is looking into the possibility of entering into an outright <br />purchase of the NFS mineral fractions, or possibly a land exchange with Colorado Marble under the rules <br />and regulations of the Small Tract Act and directives found in the Forest Service Handbook and Manual <br />(FSH & FSM) 5400, Land Ownership. <br />In short, regardless of the results of the Minerals Classification report for the calcium carbonate deposit at <br />the "Lilly Mine" site, the Forest Service is prepared to grant Colorado Mazble access to those mineral <br />fractions in order to commence with the company's planned mineralogical activities provided that no <br />extraordinary circumstances are found that cannot be mitigated for. <br />Although this office has not approved the draft Plan of Operations (POO) that Colorado Marble has <br />submitted, a tremendous amount of headway has been made this summer season in respect to other issues <br />the Forest Service has had with the "Lilly Mine" operations over the years; in particular the issue dealing <br />with National Forest System Road (NFSR} 228. Recently Colorado Marble has applied for and secured <br />an authorization for the use and operation maintenance of NFSR228 (an executed copy of the <br />authorization will also be sent to the DMG}. Based upon the fact that the company has made the good <br />faith effort to follow through with the recommendations made by the Forest Service in regards to <br />NFSR228, the Forest Service feels that this is a "starting point" to build a working relationship with <br />Colorado Marble and its operators, and to do what is right for the various resources found within the <br />Taylor Mountain area and Taylor Gulch drainage. <br />I hope that you will consider this letter as a "letter of permission", and also as adequate documentation to <br />allow Colorado Marble, Inc. and its authorized representatives/operators to commence with the planned <br />mineralogicai activities contained within the company's Reclamation Permit Conversion Application for <br />the "Lilly Mine" area. If you have any concerns regarding the contents of this letter, or if you should <br />have any questions pertaining to the completion of the various surveys or reports mentioned above, please <br />do not hesitate to contact Chris Welker (719-530-3974) at this office. <br />Sincerely, <br />~~ ~ <br />WILLIAMA. SCHUCKERT <br />District Ranger <br />cc. Ken Klco, Azurite Inc. <br />Bill Addison, President, Colorado Marble, Inc. <br />Bob Holloway, President, Monarch Mountain Marble Company <br />Carl Mount, Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology <br />Brian Farnsworth, INFORM <br />