GENERAL43300

• Permit No: M1980052
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 1/5/1994
• Doc Name: CORRESPONDENCE DATED DEC 29 1993 HOLSINGER GRAVEL PIT PN M-80-052
• From: DMG
• To: MARSHA RUSSELL
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

•
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman 51.. Room 215
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX:[phone]
January 5, 1994
Ms. Marsha Russell
P.O. Box 1102
Walden, CO 80480
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STATE OF COLORADO
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Re: Correspondence Dated December 29,
Permit No. M-80-052
Dear Ms. Russell:
Roy Romer
Governor
Michael B. Long
Drvrsion Direao.
1993, Holsinger Gravel Pit,
Thank you for providing the video tape of activities at the above
referenced pit during the summer and fall of 1993. The Division has
reviewed the tape and has also conducted a site inspection of the pit.
I have enclosed a copy of the inspection report which should serve to
update you as to the status of compliance issues for this operation.
In a letter enclosed with the video tape, you asked a number of
questions about the regulatory aspects of gravel pits. In Colorado,
extraction of sand, gravel, and borrow material is considered to be
mining, hence these activities require a Reclamation Permit under the
Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Act. This Division, under the direction
of the Mined Land Reclamation Board, issues Reclamation Permits. Many
local governments also require Conditional or Special Use Permits for
gravel pits. In addition, certain aspects of some gravel pits may be
regulated by the Colorado Department of Health, Air Pollution Control
Division (fugitive dust permits); Colorado Department of Health, Water
Quality Control Division (discharge permits); Colorado Division of Water
Resources (administration of water rights); as well as the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (dredge and fill permits). I will try to respond to
each of your questions in the order that you asked them:
1. How long will it be before the nit has to be reclaimed?
Reclamation Permits are issued for the life of the mine, and shall
continue in effect as long as mineral reserves are shown by the operator
to remain in the mining operation. In the case of the Holsinger Gravel
Pit, the permittee has committed to a phased reclamation of the pit.
The total permit area is just under 10 acres; once the western 5 acres
are played out (which is very nearly the case at this time) and the
stockpiles have been removed, the operator would be required to reclaim
to the extent practicable before entering the eastern 5 acres of the
permit area. It was noted during the Division's inspection that some
back-filling and grading had been done in the phase 1 pit, and the
permittee indicated that additional sloping was planned for this spring.
Much of the reclamation in phase 1 will be dependent on the market for
the stockpiled material - particularly that on the floor of the pit.