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DMG holds informal conference hearing on gravel pit The Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG) hosted an informal conference last Thursday as part of the appli- cation process, concerning the Line Camp Gravel Pit. This is the first of three public meet- ings. Tom Gillis, Conference Officer, and Wally Erickson, Lead Review Specialist, of the DMG were on hand to conduct the hearing. 19 other individu- alsalso signed up for the meet- ing. The informal conference was for the purpose of obtain- ing alist of parties to the ap- plication, and to air any addi- tional issues, other than those that have already been raised in previous hearings or in the expired written comment pe- riod. The issues raised included the following: Are all issues characterized by DMG staff as being non-jurisdictional actu- ally jurisdictional? The ques- tion was asked by James Preston, attorney for Carol Stepe and ]ackAkin, who pro- tested that they are actually under thejurisdiction of DMG. He continued that most of his issues are related to the land site after reclamation, and to discharge water containing pollutants and toxins. Can the application be ap- provedunless it complies with regulations fordesignated min- ingoperations? Can the appli- cation be approved unless it complies with other federal and state laws? Reclamation means returning the land back to expected use for landown- ers and citizens For recreation, agriculture, and other uses. One man asked if Four States had a discharge water permit, and if they didn't, then could they be given the permit. Erickson said he believed the company did, but would need to have a storm water permit to release the discharged groundwater into the river. Since the proposed opera- tion will discharge groundwa- ter, exposed by excavation ac- tivities, and process water, from the proposed material processing, into the river, should alt downstream areas, including McPhee Reservoir, be defined as "affected lands"? Gillis said in an interview on Wednesday that the water dis- chazgedfrom the ponds at'IWin. Spruce gravel operations was, in fact, better quality than that in the river. Marilynn Boyson said she had contacted the Forest Ser- vice about the native plants around the river bottom, and expressed her concerns about the grass that will be planted. She wondered if it will grow, due to lack of moisture. She was also concerned about weeds growing in the area. She Continued on page 2 c N 0 ye z x 0 0 I~ .. H ~F~ ~) 7 DMG HEARING from page 1 contacted Northern Arizona University at Flagstaff about graduate students doing a thesis on maps and volumes at gravel pits. She also has talked [o Fort Lewis College about gravel pits on Haycamp Mesa for means of gravel so that it would be less detrimental to the river bottom. One concern was about nearby wet- lands being adversely affected by the proposed activities, and another con- cern was whether the application pro- vides alist of chemicals to be utilized at the proposed site. Gillis and Erickson both said that, other than these concerns, many of the issues brought up in Thursday's meet- ing are already on record, and "did not need to be rehashed". However, Attor- ney James Preston, who is represent- ingCarol Stepe and John Akin in a law- suit against the county commissioners about the gravel pit, protested that the DMG is contending that certain issues, such as the traffic, noise, property val- ues, and scenic qualities fall, outside their jurisdiction. Preston said that is not accurate. Stepe said she wants a map plotting each mine on the river, and claimed that if al] the pits on the river within one mile would put toxins out, it would be very harmful to the water and air. Asked if there were data on effects of mining in a flood plain with all the pits up the Dolores River. DMG said that this is a federal issue. Gillis said that the Division has not had any experience with, and have no[ had, prior to this time, heard of any problems with groundwater due to gravel mining in the Dolores River Val- ley. He continued that, until Thursday night's meeting, "it is premature to have any data or maps, or how they were going to decide on the issue. We are still in the process of reviewing all the paz- ties concerned, and their comments." Preston said that the entire applica- tion onroads, water flow, flooding, and toxins was incorrect. Dave Wuchter said that the quality of groundwater and wells aze vital, and asked if DMG moni- tors the water: DMG monitors dry pits two times a year, and wet pits four times a year. As of the end of the original co ment period ending March 2, 2001, parties to the application included the applicant (Four States Aggregates), DMG staff, Pete and Cheri Robinson, Leslie M. Sesler and Timothy D. Hovezak, Pat and Joel Kantor, CFAR, Dale and Lynn Webb, Scott Clow, John Sutherland, David B. Wuchert, and Bob and Donna Clifton. Also signing was' James 'E. Preston, attorney for Jack Akin and Carol Stepe. The application filing date was Jan. 11, 2001, with the public comment pe- riod being closed March 2. Written comments on Thursday's informal hearing aze due on March 22 (today), at 4 p.m., which is five working di~ from the conference. The decision date from the DMG has been set for April 10, unless extended due to amendment or revision or appli- cant reques[.The prehearingconference has been set for Tuesday, April 17, at 2 p.m. at the Dolores Town Hall, unless extended. Both meetings are tentative. The formal public hearing has ten- tatively been se[ for April 25 and 26 at [he monthly meeting of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board, 1313 Sherman St., Room 318, Denver. The meetings will begin at 9 a.m. both days.