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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Dr. W.D. Corley 2 July 22, 1992 <br />vegetation productivity study is required for reclaimed areas <br />above ponds being considered for removal as a demonstration of <br />the lack of soil erosion. <br />We responded at the meeting that such a study is not a <br />requirement. Rule 4.05.2(2) discusses what surface runoff <br />criteria must be met before ponds may be removed, but does not <br />state that herbaceous productivity is a sole criterium for <br />revegetation success. Vegetative cover is typically the <br />revegetation success criteria used in evaluating stabilization. <br />Rule 4.15.8 discusses revegetation success criteria including <br />herbaceous production, but does not address pond removal. <br />The next concern dealt with the necessity of the Corley Company <br />having to renew its CPDES permit for the Newlin Creek Mine <br />sediment pond. This was the same pond that the vegetation cover <br />study was performed for, and the pond which you wanted to have <br />approved for removal and have removed prior to the CPDES permit <br />renewal date of June 30, 1992. We responded that as all ::P the <br />demonstrations for pond removal as outlined in Rule 4.05.2(2) had <br />not as yet been made, we could not approve the pond for removal <br />at this time. <br />The Corley Company's final concern was with Harrison-Western <br />Corporation's reclamation activities at the GEC Strip Mine. <br />Specifically, you contended that a portion of a new culvert <br />installed by Harrison-Western on your property, and within the <br />GEC Strip Mine permit area, extended into the adjacent Energy <br />Fuels Coal Inc. Southfield Mine permit area. You informed us <br />that while the area where this portion of the culvert existed in <br />the Southfield permit area was also your property, you believed <br />the placement of the culvert within the Southfield permit area to <br />be a "trespass", and that the Division should order Harrison- <br />Western to remove the culvert. <br />Our response to this concern was three-fold. First we stated <br />that we believe the current location of the culvert provides the <br />best balance of both minimization of surface disturbance and <br />conformance with sediment control regulations. Removal of the <br />culvert would leave two alternatives for handling the runoff from <br />the adjacent undisturbed drainage: construction of a much larger <br />conveyance system that would parallel the Southfield permit <br />boundary prior to discharging into the Magpie Creek Diversion, or <br />construction of a pond embankment large enough to treat the <br />runoff from the West Pit disturbance and the large associated <br />undisturbed watershed. Either option we believe would create a <br />significantly larger disturbance for no appreciable increase in <br />hydrologic continuity. <br />Our second response to this alleged trespass was that we have <br />