2008-03-05_REVISION - M1997054 (24)

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INTRODUCTION The Parkdale Aggregate Mine is an existing operation located in the Southeast 1/4 of Section 11, South 1/L of Section 12, and portions of Sections 13 and 14, Township 18 South, Range 72 West, of the 6th P.M., in Fremont County, Colorado. The site is bordered by the Arkansas River on the South, ' and is nearly bisected by Tallahassee Creek. Refer to the Vicinity Map within Appendix A for a more detailed illustration of the site and the surrounding area. The previous mining at the site was conducted above the ground water table and there was little if any impact on the prevailing hydrologic balance. Those effects were detailed in the original mining permit application submitted to the (then) Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG) in 1997, under File #M-97-054. The Parkdale Aggregate Mine is located approximately 11 miles west of Canon City and is accessed from U.S. Highway 50 via Fremont County Road 157. The permit area encompasses approximately 513 acres and includes mining and processing areas, internal haul roads, and railways. There are three distinct mining areas on the site and the current mining plan includes excavation of deposits in all three areas. The proposed amendment includes mining below groundwater for which dewatering of the deposits will occur as necessary. A sand and gravel mining pit is located on the gravel bar between Tallahassee Creek and the Arkansas River and granite and sandstone quarry sites are located north of Tallahassee Creek. The existing processing facility is located on the gravel bar adjacent to the sand and gravel mining pit. Areas within the existing permit boundary not currently being mined can generally be described as undisturbed, dry pasture. Surface water resources on the site include irrigation ditches and Tallahassee Creek and some of its ephemeral tributaries. The Arkansas River is adjacent to the southern boundary of the project site, with the confluence of Tallahassee Creek and the Arkansas River immediately southeast of the site. ' Tallahassee Creek, within the permit area, is ephemeral and only flows in response to storm events and periods of significant snowmelt. The general gradation of the sand and gravel alluvial deposit can be described as fine to medium grained sand to very coarse cobble, including boulders up to several feet in diameter. The deposit extends to over 60 feet in depth with the groundwater interface found approximately 40 feet below the surface. The bedrock materials are composed of relatively tight granite and sandstone formations, and will serve as the vertical control for the sand and gravel mining. ' The original permit proposed a reclamation plan of open space and dry land pasture. This amendment proposes to reclaim the sand and gravel mining area as a dry basin sealed with a clay liner, complete with sloped embankments. The clay liner will be designed to meet all applicable ' criteria specified for such facilities by the Colorado Division of Water Resources (DWR) for a lined water storage vessel. The granite quarry contained within the existing permit area is located on the opposite side (north) of Tallahassee Creek. The original permit included a proposed mining depth of 5,780 feet and a reclamation plan that principally incorporated wildlife habitat and open space. The proposed permit amendment would increase the size and depth of the quarry. The final land use for the granite quarry will include an empty reservoir below the elevation of 5,800 feet. ' Parkdale Aggregate Mine Introduction