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0 • <br />. HISTORY <br />In 1977, the writers of the Climax Mine Reclamation Permit made reference to <br />revegetation of the mine's high elevation disturbances using sewage sludge (currently <br />termed biosolids). The source of biosolids identified in the reclamation document was <br />Summit County where there are five independent wastewater treatment plants in an <br />area of high population growth. To date, biosolids generated in Summit County are <br />transported to the county landfill for disposal and composting. <br />Due in part to local pressure to reduce landfill use and high biosolids disposal cost, <br />Summit County producers of biosolids sought alternatives to disposal. Ongoing <br />dialogue with Climax Molybdenum Company seeking development of a land application <br />program at Climax resulted in an agreement between Climax and the Snake River <br />Wastewater Treatment Plant in 1990. Under a Notice of Authorization issued to the <br />Snake River Plant in June of that year, Climax began accepting biosolids at the <br />Mayflower Tailings Impoundment located at the north end of the Climax Mine. This <br />program continues. <br />Vegetative response to the application of biosolids at the Mayflower Tailing Pond <br />appears favorable at this time. The Mayflower Tailing Impoundment is authorized to <br />receive 20 tons of dry sludge per acre as an initial application followed by maintenance <br />applications not to exceed 66 pounds per acre of plant available nitrogen. Based on a <br />nitrogen content of 3%, the current maintenance application for the Mayflower site is <br />• 2.18 tons per acre. <br />Summit County producers of biosolids renewed efforts to find alternatives to disposal in <br />1994. Climax Molybdenum Company and the Summit County producers determined it <br />would be mutually beneficial to enter into an agreement for the land application of <br />biosolids on the recently capped Robinson Tailing Impoundment. The project would <br />reduce disposal costs for the producers, divert a recyclable product from the landfill in <br />Summit County, and assist reclamation efforts at the Climax Mine. The producers <br />applied for a Notice of Authorization for the Climax Molybdenum Site on August 31, <br />1994. A Notice of Authorization was issued for the Use and Distribution of Biosolids on <br />the Robinson Tailing Site on December 15, 1994 by Colorado Department of Public <br />Health and Environment, Water Quality Control Division. <br />Stipulations in the Notice of Authorization include the authorization to apply Grade B <br />sludge with greater than 14% solids on the 320 acre parcel. The Notice further <br />stipulates that the application be no greater than that amount equal to 75 pounds of <br />plant available nitrogen per acre. Given that a total of 1000 dry tons is anticipated <br />annually from Summit County with an assumed average nitrogen content of 3%, annual <br />coverage was calculated at 2.2 tons per acre of biosolids or 454.5 acres. This <br />application rate is currently viewed by Climax as being acceptable only as a <br />maintenance rate. <br />The Notice of Authorization set the initial biosolids application rate at 75 pounds of plant <br />• available nitrogen per acre based on fertilization rates specified in the Climax <br />Reclamation Permit. Research on similar projects shows, however, that an initial <br />application rate of greater than 20 tons of biosolids per acre is suitable as an