GENERAL33911

• Permit No: M1986076
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Name: LA PLATA CNTY PLANNING SERVICES AGENCY REQUEST FOR COMMENT
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

. '~
DGMC /BOB HILL
• PO BOX 96 •
HESPERUS, CO 81326
NARRATIVE
The mining operation activity described in this narrative is known as the Incas
Mine and is located in the California Mining District of La Plata Canyon. The
location in La Plata County of the mine site is in the Northwest 1/4 of Section 22,
Range 11 West, Township 36 North, 6th Colorado Principal Meridian. This
location is 12 air miles northwest of Durango and 5 air miles north of Hesperus.
The intersection of Highway 160 and La Plata Canyon Road is 5 air miles south of
the minesite.
The Incas Mine was started in 1909 and has been worked intermittently since with
a minimum of 13,200 ounces of gold produced. The last significant gold
production of 885 ounces occurred in 1986. The mine currently operates under a
Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board Limited Impact Operation 110 Mining
Permit. The permit #M86-076 was issued in 1986 and amended in 1987. This
mining permit issuance was with the approval of the La Plata County Land Use
Administrator. The minesite is inspected for compliance by representatives of the
Colorado Department of Minerals and Geology. The mine is operated under a
reclamation bond of $40,358.00. This bond is in case of operator performance
failure and thus insures the state of sufficient funds to completely reclaim the mine
site back to wildlife habitat. All present and future mining areas, including building
sites, will be reclaimed back to wildlife habitat. This reclamation will be a definite
habitat and visual improvement of the historic condition of the minesite.
The #M86-076 Mining Permit is currently being amended to change the permitted
boundaries, to have reclamation activities coordinated with mining cycles, and to
include a small ore processing plant. A copy of the amended application to the
state is on file at the La Plata County Clerk's Office. Information regarding the
amended application can also be obtained by contacting the Division of Minerals
and Geology, 1313 Sherman Street, Denver, Colorado, 80203, [phone].
This amending of the permit is being done in accordance with the July 1, 1994,
changes in the Colorado mining laws requiring an environmental protection plan for
designated mining operations. The addition to the Colorado Mining Law is
probably the most restrictive and environmental considerate state or federal mining
law and will probably be the guideline for other states and federal mining law
changes.
Various state and federal agencies exist for controlling the specific aspects of
mining and processing plants. Detailed oversite of this mining operation will be by
those organizations equipped to control activities related to mining operations.
This application to the county is for expansion of land use to include an ore
processing plant and is mainly for approval of visual aspects and size. The nearest
inhabitant in over 1 1/8 miles and the nearest line of site inhabitant is 1 1/2 miles.
Visual impact of building hidden behind trees is minimal. Distance in combination
to proper building color makes reduces visual impact of any given size.
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