2008-01-14_REVISION - C1981008 ‎(7)‎

• Permit No: C1981008
• IBM Index Class Name: REVISION
• Doc Date: 1/14/2008
• Doc Name: Comment Letter Regarding Revegetation Issues and Attachments
• From: DRMS
• To: USDA/NRCS Resources Conservationist
• Type & Sequence: RN5
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
COLORADO
D I V I S I O N OF
RECLAMATION
MINING
SAFETY
DRMS INTERNAL MEMORANDUM Bill
Ritter, Jr.
G
o
Governor
Harris D. Sherman
Executive Director
TO: Mike Boulay Ronald W. Cattany
FROM: Dan Mathews Division Director
DATE: January 14, 2008 Natural Resource Trustee
RE: New Horizon Mine (Permit No. C-81-008)
RN-5; Soils and Pre-Mine Land Use Review
Pursuant to your request of January 4, 2008, I have reviewed the Soils Resource
Information, and Topsoil Salvage and Replacement Plan sections of the approved New
Horizon permit. I also reviewed the Site Description/Pre-Mining Land Use section of the
permit, in light of some of the comments we have received from area residents and
landowners. My comments are itemized below. Please let me know if you have any
questions.
One suggestion I have is that we consider sending a copy of the renewal review letter to
Jim Boyd, the NRCS District Conservationist, and request that he let us know if he has
comments or questions on the soil and land use related items. This suggestion is due to
Jim's past and continuing involvement in some of these issues, his knowledge of the local
agricultural land use practices and soil resources, and due to the fact that I am
recommending that NRCS provide an updated prime farmland determination.
Rule 2.04.3 General Requirements: Site Description and Land Use Information
1. There is a discrepancy between narrative on page 2.04.3-6 and Map 2.04.3 (Pre-
Mine Land Use Map New Horizon 2 Mine Area). Narrative indicates that an area
of Morgan property was re-classified as Irrigated Cropland in association with
2006 mid-term review updates. The narrative also indicates that two areas
formerly mapped as Irrigated Cropland on the Burbridge property (25.02 acres)
were re-classified as Irrigated Pasture. However, review of Map 2.04.3 submitted
with the mid-term updates, shows that all of the Morgan property is classified as
various categories of Irrigated Pasture, with no Irrigated Cropland, while the
25.02 acre portion of the Burbridge property is still classified as Irrigated
Cropland (Grass Hay). Table 2.04.3-1 also shows 25.02 acres of irrigated
grass/alfalfa hay cropland (apparently the Burbridge property), which appears to
conflict with the narrative.
Office of Office of
Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand )unction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines