GENERAL51863

• Permit No: C1982055
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Name: Nomination for Reclamation Award - Phase III Bond Release
• Permit Index Doc Type: General Correspondence
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203 C O L O R A D O
Phone: [phone] o r v r s t o N o e
RECLAMAT[ON
FAX: [phone] M [ N I NCi
6t
SAFETY
Bill Owens
Raton Creek Mine cnvemnr
Nomination for Reclamation Award -Phase III Bond Release Russell George
Executive Director
Ronald W. Cattany
Division Direttar
Natural Resource Trustee
For Excellence in achieving Final Phase III Bond Release the Division of Reclamation,
Mining, and Safety recognizes Energy Fuels Mining Company and the landowner, Mr. Albert
(A.J.) luppa at the Raton Creek Mine site.
The Raton Creek mine was an underground operation located outside of Trinidad Colorado in
the foothills below Fischer's Peak in Las Animas County. Post-mining, the site presented
many difficult challenges including reclamation of a processing waste pile, south-facing steep
slopes, and poor soils in an arid environment. The post mining land use for the area is
rangeland to support cattle grazing by the landowner. The single sediment pond is approved
to remain as a permanent impoundment to benefit the end land use. The seed mix used was
carefully selected to include introduced species to benefit grazing plans while also
incorporating native, warm season species capable of long-term self-regeneration. The
revegetated area demonstrated an ability to survive and ultimately flourish after one on the
worst droughts in modern times in 2002. Through the cooperation of the landowner and his
family, the site was reclaimed and revegetated to meet the applicable standards for Phase III
bond release, approved in early 2006.
Also worthy of note is the excellent cooperation between the landowner, the operator, and the
Division during the 10-year revegetation liability period. Through careful cooperation between
the three parties, grazing was carefully planned and conducted to avoid conflicts with
revegetation efforts and vegetation sampling. Successful implementation of the land use
during the liability period not only benefits the revegetation effort but also provides the
landowner productive use of the reclaimed area.
Office of Office of
Mined Land Reclamation Active and Inactive Mines