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JN~~EO 51~ Ff 999 <br />N ~' <br />An ~, <br />UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY <br />,~ <br />fi~il MO~E4`~ REGION VIII <br />ONE DENVER PLACE - 999 18TH STREET - SUITE 1300 <br />DENVER, COLORADO 80202-2413 <br />Ref: 8PM-EA <br />Willy Frank, Project Coordinator <br />Bureau of Land Management SEP ~s t98$ <br />White River Resource Area <br />P.0. Box 928 <br />Meeker, Colorado 81641 <br />Dear Mr. Frank: <br />s~,~ <br />S~'~ ~ 61986 <br />f~,~~tti+~U ~.; s~,~,~p ~~'~ r. ~ >~~~:a, Corr <br />In accordance with our responsibilities under the National <br />_ Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Section 309 of the Clean Air Act, and <br />Part C of the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Region VIII Office of the <br />Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reviewed the Draft Environmental <br />Impact Statement for the Wolf Ridge Corporation Mine Plan for a Nahcolite <br />Solution Mine. Our detailed comments are attached for your consideration <br />on this unique mining operation. <br />EPA's principal concerns are that the analysis of impacts to the <br />ground and surface waters needs to be improved, specific construction and <br />operational features of the proposal require further refinement especially <br />regarding injection well abandonment, and that BLM's final EIS analysis <br />regarding groundwater protection should be coordinated with EPA's proposed <br />issuance of a Class III underground injection well permit for the proposed <br />activity. We believe we can accomplish these goals jointly with the <br />cooperative approach displayed by your office and look forward to a <br />mutually beneficial process eventually leading to regulatory compliance for <br />the proposed action or an alternative to the proposed action consistent <br />with BLM and EPA statutory mandates. <br />According to the procedures EPA uses to rate the adequacy of a draft <br />EIS, the Draft EIS for the Wolf Ridge Corporation Mine Plan for a Nahcolite <br />Solution Mine will be .listed in the Federal Register in Category EC-2 <br />meaning we have environmental concerns with the proposed action regarding <br />ground and surface water protection and that additional information is <br />recommended regarding 'the specific items noted in the detailed comments. <br />Please contact Mr. Weston Wilson at 303/293-1703 or Mr. Marc Herman at <br />303/293-1442 regarding the preparation of EPA's Class III permit and the <br />BLM Final EIS. <br />Sincerely, <br />Y""^~ <br />Dale Vodehnal, Chief <br />Environmental Assessment Branch <br />Enclosure <br />cc: William Dickerson, EPA, Washington, D.C. <br />Bob Stewart, Department of the Interior, Denver <br />E/d~^ Rosar, Industrial Resources, Inc. <br />'.~I000r.' ~ ~,~(.t.Rir~' ~~ <br />