GENERAL40532

• Permit No: M2002106
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 10/2/2002
• Doc Name: New Permit No.
• From: DMG
• To: Larry Mondragon
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Department of Natural Resources
ECE~ ~a'~'p;
7313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203 T
O^T O ~ 20Q2 DIVISION O F
l• 1 (~
Phone: [phone] MINERAL S
~
FAX: [phone] Division of Mine,at, ~., ,„ G E O L O G Y
BECLA MATION
MI NING•SAFETY
Bill Owens
October 2, 2002 ~ f ~ ~ ~ ' "' enverrw.
~. Greg E. Walther
Executive Director
Larry Mondragon ~ ~ ' ~ , Rnnala w. Gttany
9451 US Highway 285 South Acting Division Direcor
Alamosa, CO 8l 101 \
Re: Rio Grande Benue Site, Original Permit No. M-1978-126 HR, New Permit No. M-2002-106.
Dear Mr. Mondragon,
By now you have received the inspection report for the 9/23/02 visit we made to the bentonite site. It
discusses the same issues we looked at during the inspection, and concludes that the site must continue to
be permitted if it is to remain active. However, after discussing the situation with staff here at the office, I
had to inform you in that inspection report that since the operation had exceeded 3 acres (the size
originally permitted in 1978) and that you also intend to increase the size in the future, addition of land
was required to bring your site into compliance, and that an amendment application was the only way to
do that. This is the only mechanism we have for this type of permit action.
If you do not intend to operate the pit in the future, or expand it further, there may be other ways to bring
the site into compliance, besides a permit amendment. That is something we have discussed only briefly,
which might include fixture use of the site for a licensed landfill. If you wish to explore other, non-mining
options, please contact me. Otherwise, please proceed to prepare the 110 amendment application form
and the exhibits for submittal on or before 12/31/02. Some of the exhibits do not need to be resubmitted,
if they have not changed since first provided. If you have questions at any time about how to prepare the
materials, please contact me. I can discuss the materials with you, or can refer you to other parties in the
Alamosa area which have experience with this type ofthing. But please understand, your operation is not
in compliance with your permit, and corcections must be made. Let us not allow the deadline to pass
without working to correct the problem.
You had requested a copy of the file, which I did not have time to prepare for you before mailing the
recent inspection report. Enclosed you will find a complete copy of the original 1978 file, including
application form and exhibits from your father, review materials from the Division, the surety (bond)
form and the permit document itself. The Division's 1981 inspection report is also included.
I look forward to working with you on whatever amendments you wish to make to the permit, or if a
different path is desired which does not include future mining. Please ensure all correspondence, etc,,
contains the new permit number shown above. You may reach me at the Division's Durango field office:
701 Camino del Rio, Room 125, Durango, CO 81301; telephone [phone] or fax [phone].