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,,.~ <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Depanmenr of Naluml Rewurces ~I~~~ <br />131 3 Sherman SL, Room ? I S <br />Denver. Color, do AO'_0} <br />Phone: i}03)85fi-3557 <br />FAX. 0031 83?-810fi <br />DEPARTMENT OF <br />NATURAL <br />RESOURCES <br />DATE: July 22, 1997 Roy Romer <br />Governor <br />tames 5 Lochhead <br />Etrcwive Direcbr <br />Michael B Long <br />Division Dueaor <br />TO: Bill York-Feirn <br />FROM: Joe Dudash \~ ~ <br />RE: Request For Information, Bowie No. 2 Mine, Permit No. C-96-083, Bowie <br />Resources Ltd. <br />This memo is to document my concerns about two issues at the Bowie No. 2 Mine, near <br />Paonia. I would appreciate getting your input concerning these two issues. <br />The first issue is about the proper storage of explosives. The Bowie No. 2 permit <br />application states that there will be a permanent storage site for explosives at the Bowie <br />No. 1 Mine and that there will be a temporary storage site at the Bowie No. 2 Mine. This <br />temporary storage is at the eastern end of the present disturbed area at Bowie No. 2, <br />within about a couple hundred feet of Old Highway 133. I do not know the distance to <br />any occupied dwellings. The temporary storage area is comprised of two powder houses <br />and an ANFO trailer. There is no berm surrounding the storage site. During two <br />inspections, it was observed that the ANFO trailer had been left unlocked while <br />unattended. Are there requirements for a protective berm around the storage site? Are <br />there minimum distances required between an explosives storage site and a highway or <br />occupied buildings? Is it a requirement that the storage sites be locked while unattended? <br />Could you please arrange for one of your inspectors to visit the site as soon as possible to <br />determine compliance regarding explosives storage and blaster certification? <br />The second issue involves possible safety concerns at the mine site. The operator is in the <br />process of constructing the surface facilities that will support the future underground <br />mining operation. Susan Burgmaier and myself have expressed to each other our concerns <br />about what I would describe as a "cavalier" attitude towards the use of the large <br />earthmoving equipment on site. While being driven around the mine site during <br />inspections, communications have not always been used to announce our presence as we <br />neared large machinery. Also, in one instance, a large dump truck parked within a few <br />