GENERAL31239

• Permit No: M1983033
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 6/28/2007
• Doc Name: Summary & Status of the Mine
• From: DRMS
• To: DRMS
• Permit Index Doc Type: General Correspondence
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman SL, Roam 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
DATE: June 28, 2007 /
TO: Ron Cattany; DRMS Director ,/
David Berry; Interim Director; Office of Mined Land Reclamation
FROM: Erica Crosby~~~j /
RE: Albert Frei & Sons, Inc.; Walstrum Mine; Permit #M-1983-033 /
Summary and Status of the Mine
As per your request is a summary of the Walstrum Mine, Permit No. M-1983-033.
COLORADO
DIVISION O F
RECLAMATION
MINING
- &-
SAF ETY
Bill Ritter, Ir.
Governor
Harris D. Sherman
Executive Director
Ronald W. Catlany
Division Dire<tar
Natural Resource Trustee
Albert Frei & Sons, Inc. operates the Walstrum Mine located in Clear Creek County, approximately 4.5 miles
east of Idaho Springs at the Junction of Hwy 6 and I-70. The State approved the Walstrum quarry application
in 1983. The initial permit area comprised 116.48 acres. However, the mining and reclamation plans have been
revised over the years. A substantial amendment to the permit (AM-8) in 2002 increased the permit area to
292.07 acres. The approved maximum disturbance for the site at any given time is 50 acres. The quarry has a
reclamation bond in the amount of $741,500.00 in the form of a Letter of Credit.
Mining is currently taking place in Stage I and is progressing from west to east. The mine specifies
conventional quarrying techniques with development of 40' high by 40' wide benches and overall slope
configuration of Ih:ly. Future mining in Stage I will progress towards the north, where the operator will
construct uniform benches approximately 60' high by 180' wide. Ultimately, the operator will fill these
benches with finer material that has no market value to a slope of 3h:ly. The operator anticipates that Stage I
will be completed in 55 to70 years.
The approved post-mining land use is industrial/commercial. The final reclamation plan allows the site to be
used as commercial area, so no topsoil or revegetation is required on the pit floor. Benches on the north facing
slope are to remain in place after mining. Benches will be replaced with 12 inches of growth medium and
revegetated with the approved seed mixture. in addition, trees will be planted on the benches. As mining
progresses towards the north, the benches will be graded to a 3hav slope, topsoiled and revegetated.
Reclamation has concluded in a number of the approved mining stages comprising a total of 30.69 acres. Since
1998, DRMS staff has inspected the site every other year to ensure the operator is following the approved
mining and reclamation plan. Past inspection reports note that the operator is adequately following the
approved mining and reclamation plans and maintaining the maximum disturbed area of 50 acres. The operator
is reclaiming the site contemporaneously to the extent possible. In addition, there are no past or current
violations of the permit.
Staff recently inspected the site on June 15, 2007 due to a citizen complaint from the Upper Clear Creek
Watershed Associated regarding drainage into Clear Creek. According to Staff, the source of the complaint
appears to be non-point source storm water drainage from areas outside the permit area and possibly a matter
for CDOT to evaluate. However, this issue is cutrently under review by Staff.
cc: Cazl Mount; DRMS
Tony Waldron; DRMS
Tom Schreiner; DRMS
Office of Office of
Mined Land Reclamation Denver Grand junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines