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A second permit renewal was applied for by MINREC, [nc. on July 6, 1992 and was found to be <br />complete on July 13, 1992. The Division's preliminary adequacy review was sent on September 2, <br />1992, and MINREC's responses were received on October l9, 1992, in the form of a technical <br />revision. The technicat revision, which addressed the issues raised in the preliminary adequacy <br />review was approved on December 18, 1992, and the permit was subsequently issued. <br />A third permit renewal was applied for by MINREC, Inc. On June 5, 1997 and was found to be <br />complete on June 5, 1997. The Division made a decision to approve the permit renewal on December <br />9, 1997. <br />Description of the Environment <br />Site Description and Land Use -Rule 2.04.3 <br />The Blue Ribbon Mine is located in the northeast portion of Delta County, Colorado; approximately <br />two miles north of Juanita Junction in the Hubbard Creek drainage. Juanita Junction is six miles <br />northeast of Paonia along the old Colorado State Highway 133. The mine previously operated a truck <br />scale and coal storage facility adjacent to State Highway 133, approximately three miles northeast <br />of Paonia. This facility was released from the permit area in March 1989 because the State Highway <br />Department acquired the land on which the scale facility was located, to provide for the construction <br />of an upgraded highway through the area. The operator dismantled the truck scale facility and <br />regraded the area according to the reclamation plan prior to release of this area. <br />Hubbard Creek is a perennial tributary of the North Fork of the Gunnison River and provides both <br />domestic and agricultural supplies of water. The confluence of Hubbazd Creek and the North Fork <br />of the Gunnison River is located approximately two miles south and 500 feet below the mine. The <br />North Fork of the Gunnison enters the main stem of the Gunnison River approximately 30 miles <br />southwest of the Blue Ribbon Mine site. <br />The watershed of Hubbard Creek is mountainous, ranging in elevation from 11,327 feet atop Crater <br />Peak to 5,900 feet at the confluence of Hubbard Creek with the North Fork of the Gunnison River. <br />Slopes at the mine vary from 0 to 60 percent and elevation varies from 6,300 feet at the southern <br />contact of the permit area and Hubbard Creek to 7,800 feet at the northeast comer of [he permit area. <br />The mine portals were at an elevation of 6,470 feet. <br />The general area ir. ~.vhich. r!,e Blue Ribbon h9ine is located is characterizeu by steeply siopu~o <br />mountains covered either with tall shrub vegetation, particularly oakbrush and serviceberry, or stands <br />of pinon and juniper trees. Drainages in the area are lined with riparian vegetation communities <br />along [he stream banks. Some of the more level areas have been cleared and support limited <br />livestock grazing. However, for the most part, the surrounding land is undeveloped and is used <br />primarily as wildlife habitat. Recreational activities such as big game hunting, trapping, fishing and <br />off-road driving also occur in the general area. <br />J <br />