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GENERAL48695
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Entry Properties
Last modified
8/24/2016 8:25:21 PM
Creation date
11/23/2007 4:30:13 PM
Metadata
Fields
Template:
DRMS Permit Index
Permit No
M1978116
IBM Index Class Name
General Documents
Doc Date
4/21/2006
Doc Name
Appeal of Final Determination of Non-Designated Mining Operation Status
From
Energy Minerals Law Center
To
DMG
Permit Index Doc Type
DMO
Media Type
D
Archive
No
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<br />1 <br />toxic-producing materials "in quantities sufficient to adversely affect any person, any <br />property, or the environment." Id. (emphasis added). <br />In this case, the DMG's July 25, 2005 Notice of Determination clearly states that SM-18 Mine <br />meets the criteria for a DMO. The July 25, 2005 DMG determination was based on recently <br />conducted Synthetic Precipitate Leachate Procedure ("SPLP") tests on waste rock and ore <br />samples from the SM-18 Mine. The July 25, 2005 DMO Determination was also based on <br />numerous DMG inspections of operational conditions conducted in early 2005 that analyzed <br />surface conditions, restart conditions, and actual mining operations. The SPLP tests and site <br />investigations confirmed the presence, exposure, and disturbance of toxic and acid forming <br />materials at the SM-18 mine that could adversely effect human health, property or the <br />environment. At that point, the DMO standard was satisfied. C.R.S. § 34-32-103(3.5)(a)(II), <br />C.R.S. § 34-32-112.5(2). <br />The SPLP test further confirmed that these materials exceed applicable water quality parameters. <br />In particular, the SPLP tests demonstrated the SM-18 Mine has a potential to release Aluminum, <br />Lead, Selenium, Uranium, and Zinc. These materials are "toxic or acidic materials" under <br />applicable law, further confirming that SM-18 is a DMO pursuant to C.R.S. § 34-32- <br />103(3.5)(a)(II). <br />The subsequent October 5, 2005 DMG inspection revealed full production, 50 tons of ore <br />stockpiled adjacent to a county road, and trucks hauling materials to the dump. A recent <br />inspection report, issued after the DMG's reversal of its DMO finding and dated April 5, 2006 <br />indicates that active mining has "halted again for the near future." <br />The notice in the April 12, 2006 meeting agenda indicates that the DMG's final non-DMO <br />determination was based on staff's "acceptance" of groundwater models, unspecified reports, <br />and other assertions made by Cotter. <br />Staff accepts that contaminants from the waste rock or underground workings will not <br />have a deleterious effect on the ground water quality in the immediate area. <br />However, the DMG appears to have adopted a position that contravenes the SPLP tests that <br />establish that SM-18 has the potential to release toxic or acidic materials. As chazacterized in the <br />public notice in the April 12, 2006 meeting agenda: <br />The initial finding was based on SPLP test results that showed that toxic-formine <br />materials were present in the waste rock and ore that is being deposited at the surface of <br />the operation. (emphasis added) <br />This notice, like the other records in the DMG file, supports Appellants' request that the MLRB <br />reject the final non-DMO finding as contrary to facts in the record and applicable law. Indeed, it <br />appears that the DMG is using an artificially heightened standard to review the DMO status. For <br />example, the DMG repeatedly equates the definition of "acid or toxic producing materials" with <br />"potential to release metals in concentrations that exceed ground or surface water standards" See <br />July 25, 2005 Notice and June 15, 2005 SPLP results review. However, the MLRA specifically <br />
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