Laserfiche WebLink
GROW RESPONSIBLY IN YLATTEVILLE <br />(GRIP)* <br />June 13, 2002 RE~E9VED <br />JUN 2 4 2002 <br />Oiuisian of Minerals and Geology <br />Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment <br />Division of Water Quality Control <br />4300 Cherrv Creek Drive South <br />Denver, Colorado 80246-1530 <br />RE: Permit Number: COG50000, <br />Facility number: COG500346 <br />Dear Sir or Madam: <br />i~'e live near the Varna Sand and Gravel Pit Located on Highway 66 in Platteville. At the <br />rime of their application for permits to operate their gravel pit, your agency issued Varna a <br />permit co discharge water in to the Saint Vrain drainage. That permit expires on September <br />30, 2002. We are asking that you NOT renew the permit until Varna changes its method of <br />operation to wet mining. ~C/e are also asking that we be included as parties in any public <br />process conducted by your agency in the dischazge permit renewal process. <br />Varna is currently mining several deep pits, the largest of which is permitted to extend over <br />83+ acres and up to 40 feet deep. When Vazra started mining in 2000, it is our <br />understanding that wells in the immediate vicinity went dry and were deepened. As their <br />mining operation his progressed, neighbors within 1.5 miles of Varra's operation have <br />documented a severe drop in the levels of their wells that has coincided with the opening of <br />the lazgest of the pits. Meanwhile the Vazra operation is pumping copious amounts of <br />groundwater into the Saint Vrain River ro the North and downstream of our wells. This <br />artificially lowers the water table accessed by well owners to the East and South of their <br />operation, and artificially inflates surface water available downstream from the point of <br />dewatenng. <br />Currency, permitting agencies are requiring other mining applicants the immediate vicinity <br />of Vazra's FIighway G6 opention to wet mine. Vazra's continued dry mining will undermine <br />the efforts of other gravel pit owners to preserve the water table. <br />