2009-05-19_REVISION - M1980055HR (30)

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Decision Record Topaz and Sunday Mines Expansion Project CO-800-2007-104EA 1.0 Decision I have reviewed the Environmental Assessment (EA), No. CO-800-2007-104EA, prepared for this Proposed Action, including the analyses of potentially significant environmental impacts. I have determined that no significant adverse impacts to the human environment would result. I have also determined that the proposed project is in conformance with the current land use plan. Therefore, it is my decision to approve the Proposed Action, as described in Alternative B, with mitigations developed during the preparation of this Environmental Assessment which are identified as Conditions of Approval (COA). My decision is contingent on the Conditions of Approval, which are binding parts of the proposed action. Specifically, my decision approves the following activities: • Rehabilitating existing mine workings at the Topaz Mine • Expansion of the waste rock area at the mine portal an additional 200 feet north at the Topaz Mine • Re-establishing mine ventilation through the addition of three new vent holes over the next five years at the Topaz Mine Establishing mine ventilation through the addition of four new vent holes over the next five years at the Sunday Mine complex. • Conducting exploration drilling within the Sunday Mines claim areas I have identified additional mitigations as a result of public comments. All mitigations, developed in the EA, will be incorporated as Conditions of Approval. Ground disturbing work, that is part of this Proposed Action, may not begin until: Denison has their bond updated. An adequate financial guarantee, accepted by the BLM, must be in place before work may begin. Denison must provide monthly reports on the status of the characterization and geohydrologic studies, and fate and transport models to the BLM. ? Composite samples shall be acquired through quarterly waste rock grab samples and analyzed once per year to ensure that the waste is still considered inert. These data and a summary report shall be provided to the BLM. ? Denison will provide quarterly reports on monitoring data from all groundwater monitoring wells. Water quality will be tested for any potential leachates that are identified in the characterization tests. An annual summary report will be provided to the BLM. ? If characterization studies indicate that the waste rock material is not inert, a monitoring plan will be submitted to the BLM. Denison will continue to work with San Miguel County and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to ensure that all required State and Decision Record - 1 - Sunday Mines ComplexExpanson Dolores Public Lands Office January 2009