PERMFILE138152

• Permit No: M1978283
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 3/27/2001
• Doc Name: RULE 14 REPLACEMENT PLAN RENEWAL
• From: OFFICE OF STATE ENGINEER
• To: WALSENBURG SAND & GRAVEL
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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WATER DIVISION 2 o><.ca
OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER e ~

310 E. AbdenAo Ave.. Suite B A
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Pueblo, Co. 81001 +
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Phone (]l9)541-3368 +
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FAX [phone]]6
RECEIVED &ll Owens
Governor
Greg Watcher
MAR 21 1001 Emecuttve Dveclor
Hal Simpson
SNte Engineer

Division of Minerals and Geology Steven 1. Witte, P.E.
Div~ston Engineer
March 23, 2001
Louis P. Vezzani
Walsenburg Sand and Gravel
P.O. Drawer 352
Walsenburg, CO 81089
Certified mail no. 7Z°0 ~ Zo ~~ ~'7 3 3 g l g I o 3
RE: Rule 14 Replacement Plan renewal
Mr, Vezzani,
This letter concerns the Walsenburg Sand and Gravel operation. We previously
received a proposed Rule 14 Replacement Plan to allow the well to operate during 2001
and to allow for evaporation from a small sediment pond. A review of field inspections
from the past year indicated that there was an open pit on the property that exposed
groundwater. We estimate the area of exposed groundwater to be about 2 acres in size
and that the groundwater had been exposed within the last few years. Our review
indicates that this gravel pit operates under the Division of Minerals and Geology permit
number M1978-283. That permit was for a dry pit, which was not to expose
groundwater. Section 37-90-137(11) C.R.S. requires a well permit for the exposed
groundwater area in a gravel pit and Plan for Augmentation or Substitute Water Supply
Plan to replace evaporative losses.
VVe are not iliciined to approve the rule 14 replacement plan for this operation since it
would not provide a source of replacement water for the evaporation from the pit and
since the operation as a whole requires a Substitute Water Supply Plan or Plan for
Augmentation rather than the Rule 14 Replacement Plan. Because we do not anticipate
being able to approve the Rule 14 plan, your well will no longer have a source of
replacement water as of April 1, 2001, and it is our intent to order curtailment of pumping
from that well unless significant progress is made to address the exposure of
groundwater from the pit. The evaporation from the pit could be addressed by either
back filling the pit or by one of the above types of replacement plans, but either
mechanism is a significant process.
This letter is to put you on notice that unless the problem of evaporation from the
unpermitted exposed water surface of the pit is addressed by April 1, 2001 we intend to
place a field order prohibiting further diversion from the well. A separate order will likely
be issued for the exposed water surface. If you should pump in violation of the order for