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S- • • APRIL 14, 1987 La Plata County Commissioners Meeting I am in agreement with Mssrs. Stuart and Schermacher in asking you to deny the Sandco permit applied for by Mr. Dillon. The Colorado Mined Lands Reclamation Board 's Mineral Rules and Regulations clearly states "NO p=rmit for new mining operations shall be granted to any operator who is cu,:rently found to be in violation of the provisons of this article with respect to any operation in this state." Since I last communicated with you (CountyCommissioners) in a letter dated 4/6/8'7, appealing fvr }lcip wi%ia tF~e problems on the upper reaches of the Animas River I have contacted several state and Federal agencies including U.S.F:ish andWildlife Service, Co. Division of Wildlife, U.S.Dept. of Agri- culture Soil Conservation Service, Colorado Mined Lands Reclamation Board, Corps of Engineers, and the Enviraonmental Protection Agency, and I now have can even clearer understanding of what we can do. We are not alone in recognizing this is a problem with an immediate need for a workable solution. Each of these agencies has a pertinent interest in the conditionof the Animas River and Valley. They are also somewhat politically stifled in what actions they can initiate. The action must be initiated by you, the County Commissioners. Each one of the individuals I spoke with ( and surely everyone with a conscious ear to the situation) agrees that a rivet manage- ment plan is badly needed, and they are willing to help. Before we can proceed any furhher we must look comprehensively at the problem. The government agencies are limited by county regulations as to what direct actions they can take. La Plata County's lack of a land use plan makes this even Rpre difficult. We must have a moratorium on any further minimg permits on the Animas River before even more damage is done. You cannot continue to approve these operations when you have no criteria for either denial or approval. The Planning Board has recommended approval of theSandco permit revison even tho Sandco is already in violation of their current permit, because the only criteria they are allowed to use is "consisitent land use". (The County Commissioners are obligated by responsibility to look at the issue comprehensively.) In the same breath the Planning Board recommended a River Management plan.