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RECEIVED Lana Jo Chapin APR 151987 11165 County Rd. 250 Durango, Co 61301 MIND LAND 303-247-1541 iiECLAN~i~,Ti~~~l~(~~~Ql~,ands Reclamation Board Denver, Colorado RE: Sandco Permits M-79-16 and M-80-130 P~=rmit Violations It is my understanding that the Sandco Aggregate Company may have com- mitted violations of the above listed permits. If violations have occurred I urge the Board to issue a Cease and Desist order as stated in Rule 8 8.22 (c) of the Mineral Rules and Regulations. The Animas River Valley is in a desperate condition partly due to the affeci:s of the aggregate industry. The reach of river that houses Sandco is also host to at least 3 other permitted operations and an unknown number of non-permitted "erosion control" activites. This stretch of river between Baker's Bridge and Trimble Lane (Co. Rd. 252) is only 6 mile=s long. In this type of intense use it seems even more important that the operators abide by the laws that they have agreed to when issued a minting permit. Mr. Dillon has demonstrated a lack of responsibility and a disrespect for the regulations by violating his permit boundaries in an area that is already under scrutiny by local, state and federal agencies in regard to land use. Tremendous loss of personal property has been suffered by landowners adjacent to mining operations in this reach of river. With so many operations in such a short distance, every operat=ion seems to have an affect on all riverside property along this entice stretch. Mr. Dillon does not seem to take the violation very seriously as he has applied to the county for a new permit which, if granted, will encompass the two currentpermits(that he is in violation of) and::much greater acceage. This seems to be quite a bit after the fact. I doubt that he has much chance at that if the CMLRB regulations are followed which reads, "NO permit for new mining operations shall be granted to any operator who is cuc~rently found to be in violation of the provisions of this article..." (120 1.57) The Sandco situation is not an isolated one, I believe. As I explained to Mr. Bischoff in our 4/13 conversation I have been in recent contact with Bill Newnan, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Bob Clack, Sr. Biologist and Steve Torbit of Colorado Division of Wildlife, Jim Thornton and Dan Lynn U.S. soil Conservation Service, and Brad Miller, Environmental Protection Agency in regards to the apparent lack of regulation enforcement along the Animas River and the need for a total river management plan. There has recently been a lot of attention drawn to the problems in the Animas Valley and a proposal of cooperation is needed between private landowners and the aggregate operators. I believe that Mr. Dillon has, through his permit violations, exhibited his disregard for the reclamation aspect of the mining industry, for his neighbors along the river, and for the laws themselves. I urge the Board to issue a Eease and Desist order which is within it's realm of authority. If a hunter is caught with 3 dead animals and only has a tag for one, he faces the penalty of the law. I believe Sandco should also face the penalty of the law. '