2008-02-08_PERMIT FILE - M2007044 ‎(2)‎

• Permit No: M2007044
• IBM Index Class Name: PERMIT FILE
• Doc Date: 2/8/2008
• Doc Name: Response to additional adequacy review
• From: Energy Fuels Resources Corp.
• To: DRMS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

RECEIVED ~,~jt~
FEB 1 3 2008
Division of Reclamation,
Mining and Safety
,~ ~...~
~~ R ~~` f ENERGY FUELS RESOURCES ~
`~ RP A
CO OR TION
February 7, 2008
~'~.;7n~~~!: pi h7rd
G. Russell Means ~ ~~~ ®~ 2008 ~/
Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety s3~ND JGd~,~i tad ~~mELU OFFICE
101 South 3`d, Suite 301 DIVISION OF
RECLAMATION M,€dING ~ SAFETY
Grand Junction, CO 81501
Re: Response to Additio Adequacy Review, File No. M-2007-044
Whirlwind Mine, esa County, Colorado
Dear Russ:
Energy Fuels Resources Corporation's (Energy Fuel's) responses to the Division of
Reclamation, Mining and Safety's (DRMS's) Additional Adequacy Review (AAR) are
presented below. If these responses adequately address your concerns, we will incorporate
the proposed changes and additional information into the 112d application and, the BLM
Plan of Operations. DRMS's comments are shown in italics below with the reviewers name
presented for each set of comments. Energy Fuels responses are presented in regular font.
David Bird:
1) Pg 3. Applicant states shat the hydraulic conductivity of the Salt Wash unit tit~as tested
to be 2.5 x 103 m/day, mad that the unit "will h•ansnrit -vater• but at a very sloiti~ rate. " hz
fact, 2.5 x 10"j m/day falls in the mice range of sandstone units (Freeze and Cherry,
1979), which typically rn•e considered good aquifers due to their water production
capabilities. Characteriaing the transmissive properties of the unit as "very slow" Wray
not be entirely accurate.
We agree. The statement "very slow" was written when we had been told initiallly that the
hydraulic conductivity was 2.5 x 10~ m/day. The numeric value was later corrected in
our response to comments but this statement was overlooked. The tranmissivity could
better be characterized as slow. Tight sandstones can be used as a water source in those
cases where the formation is confined and the hydraulic head is substantial.
2) To allow monitoring of the potential increase in mine inflow over Lime as .a result of
mine expansion, during those periods when pumping of standing i>>ater from the mine is
performed, I recommend that Energy Fuels be required to include the quantity of water
prnlrped In then' pe!'%OdIC repOl'tlilg Obligatl0lTS.