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II'II'II'II I'II'II "'"H~ / I~ - 4, <br />STATE OF COLORADO ROY ROMER, Grnerr~ 999 Gaol opic al Survev // <br />DEPARTMENT OF NATUKAL RESUUKI;L'~5 8oerd of Lend Co 1'fionen <br />Mlned Lartl Neclam aclpn <br />CLYDE O. MAATZ, Executive Director Dif ition or MrnM <br />1313 Sherman St, Room 71 & Denver, Colorado 80203 866.3317 Oil antl G.n Conaervetl on Commfafion <br />~ Dlviflon Ot Perko & Ou[tlp ar Recreation <br />~ Soil Com~rrv ed on aperd <br />Wa[or Confervegon Boartl <br />D iv if ipn of Water Ref OUrCea <br />i. i Dlvl aion of Wil tllife <br />T0: Governor Roy Romer <br />i <br />FROM: Ed Bischoff, Minerals Program Supervisgr <br />GATE: October 22, 1987 ~,, QCT 23 1987 <br />SUBJECT: Briefing Paper: Sunnyside Mine Tour ~NN~p LAND <br />~~C~AAAATfON DWlSION <br />Underground hardrock {gold/silver} mine located one mile east or <br />Silverton on Animas River. Operated since 1873, very productive <br />gold/silver mine. Standard Metals Corporation (former operator} entered <br />bankruptcy in early 7980's. Echo Bay {current operator) took over in <br />1985. Echo Bay operates mines in Canada and Nevada -- reputation for <br />productivity. <br />Upper Animas River drains one of the most heavily mineralized :trtd mining <br />impacted areas in Colorado. Heavy metals and acid mine drainage have <br />destroyed the biological integrity of many reaches of stream. Mine <br />related drainage has rendered this portion of the river unacceptable for <br />public water supplies. TOXIC levels of lead, manganese and copper are <br />present. <br />Reclamation Issues: <br />Mined Land Reclamation permit in 1977. Significantly <br />revised/updated in 1986. 293 surface acres permitt~ad includes <br />mill, 4 tailings ponds, 3 tunnels and associated areas. <br />$1,035,000 reclamation bond. <br />o Sunnyside discharges several hundred gallons of water per month <br />from active mine workings. Treatment plant maintained as part <br />of Department of Health water quality permit. Permit requires <br />active treatment in perpetuity. Probably not feasible -- NLRO <br />would like to see permanent closure with passive treatment, as <br />necessary. <br />Stabilization of tailings poses tough reclamation challenge. <br />Some success with past revegetation efforts evident on old <br />tailings ponds. More test work needed. <br />In June 1978, Standard Metals undermined Lake Emm:t which burst <br />into mine workings. Occured on weekend when mine closed -- <br />avoided significant mine disaster. Today, Echo B•iy wants to <br />mine former lake area by open-pit methods. Reclamation tough <br />due to Alpine conditions. <br /> <br />i530A <br />