PERMFILE119645

• Permit No: M2000034
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 6/22/2000
• Doc Name: STATUS OF THE APPLICATION WESTERN MOBILE NORTHERN INC LOVELAND PIT FN M-2000-034
• From: DMG
• To: RALPH W POWER
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

DIVISION OF ~V1INERALS AND GEOLOGY
Department of Natural Reoources
I,!I.I Sherman SL, Room'IS
Denver, Colorado 40'_03
Phone: [phone] i 67
June 22, 2000
iii iiiiiii miii
STATE OF COLORADO
~~
DIVISION Of
MINERAL S
GEOLOGY
R E C L A M A T I O N
MINING•SAf ETY
Mr. Ralph W. Power ell o,.er„
Governor
1068 East First Street
CreR E 1,Val~hcr
Loveland, CO 80537 E.econoc D~r«~or
b~ichael B. Long

RE: Status of the Application, Western Mobile Northern, Inc., Division D~recior
Loveland Pit, File No. M-2000-034
Deaz Mr. Power:
The Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG) has received your letter dated April 14, 2000 stating
concerns with the Loveland Pit application. When written comments are received, the decision to
approve or deny an application, or to approve an application with conditions, is made by the Colorado
Mined Land Reclamation Board (Board) in a Formal Public Hearing. The DMG will make a
recommendation on the application to the Board, and any interested members of the public are allowed
to address the Board during the Hearing. The Applicant is also entitled [o present information in
support of the proposed gravel pit during the Hearing. By submitting written comments during the
public comment period, you are entitled to become a party to the Hearing before the Board. An
information package on the Hearing process and the rights and responsibilities of parties to the Hearing
is enclosed with this letter.
Regarding your specific concerns with the application, the following list has been prepared to outline
the areas of the Board's jurisdiction:
Truck traffic and related impacts are not within the Board's jurisdiction. The decision as to whether
a gravel pit is an acceptable land use in a particular location rests with the local land use authority.
The Board is primarily concerned with the reclamation of mined land and the minimization of
environmental impacts during mining. Since hauling by truck is integral to most mining operations,
the acceptability of the related noise, dust, increased traffic, etc. is decided locally. You are
encouraged to pursue your concerns with the local land use authority.
The capability of the Applicant to reclaim the site to wildlife habitat through execution of the
proposed reclamation plan is a concern that is within the Board's jurisdiction. However, your
statement that reclamation to wildlife habitat is not a realistic goal is contrary to the direct
observations and experience of the DMG and the Board at hundreds of reclaimed pits in Colorado.
You are encouraged to cite specific concerns that you may have with the proposed reclamation plan
and a basis for your opinion that the plan will not succeed.