2009-06-05_REVISION - C1981039 - Laserfiche WebLink

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IV. Observations and Findings Public Notice/Public Comment The Division published notice of its initiation of its bond release/termination of jurisdiction process for the Grassy Gap Mine in the Steamboat Pilot once weekly for four consecutive weeks, beginning October 14, 2007. In accordance with Rule 3.03.2(1), the current private surface landowner (Cross Mountain Ranch), the Colorado State Land Board (SLB), and adjacent landowners were notified of the Division's intent to terminate its jurisdiction over the mine. The Division also notified the Routt County Board of County Commissioners, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (Little Snake Field Office), the Colorado Division of Wildlife, and the U.S. Office of Surface Mining (Denver Field Office). No comments were received from any of the parties notified. Bond Release/Termination of Jurisdiction Site Inspection The Division conducted its bond release/termination of jurisdiction inspection on November 8, 2007. The Denver Field Office of the Office of Surface Mining and the current private landowner, Cross Mountain Ranch, were notified of the date and time of the inspection. Both parties declined accompanying the Division on the inspection. The Colorado State Land Board was inadvertently not notified of the November 8, 2007 inspection. The Division conducted a final inspection on June 1, 2009. U.S. Office of Surface Mining representative Christine Belka attended the June 1, 2009 inspection. On June 2, 2009, the Division notified mining engineer Jennifer Maiolo of the Little Snake Field Office of the BLM and Northwest District Manager Lane Osborn of the Division's intent to terminate jurisdiction at the site. Both agencies were informed that if they wanted to inspect the Grassy Gap Mine prior to the State's TOJ, DRMS would schedule an inspection with them. On June 2, 2009, SLB District Manager Lane Osborn verbally informed the Division by telephone that he did not need to inspect the affected lands owned by the State of Colorado due to the relatively small disturbance of one acre on SLB land. On June 5, 2009, BLM mining engineer Jennifer Maiolo notified the Division by e-mail that she did not need to inspect the mine site. Phase I Observations and Conclusions When the Grassy Gap Mine permanent program permit (C-1981-039) was issued on April 23, 1985, Pits 1, 2, 3, and 5 were found to have been backfilled, graded, topsoiled and seeded in accordance with State interim program permit No. 78-45. The Division approved Phase I and Phase II bond release for 15.22 acres of Pit 4 with the first partial approval of SLI on October 5, 1990. In 1991, the Division found during the continued review of SLI that the backfilling and grading of Pit 6 met the approved post-mining topography, and the U.S. Office of Surface Mining concurred. Phase I bond release for backfilling and grading of Pit 6 was included in the Division's second partial approval of SLI of January 6, 1992. This January 6, 1992 partial approval of SLI also included approval of the backfilling and grading of 52 acres of Pit 4. Remaining tasks that had been outlined in the June 26, 1990 Settlement Agreement were approved for bond release in the Division's third partial approval of SLlon December 22, 1992. All roads located on surface lands owned by the previous private landowner (Bogle Farms) were requested in letters dated March 24, 1981, and June 6, 1990, to remain as permanent access roads (there were no roads constructed on surface lands owned by the State Land Board). A portion of the main haul road/mine access road continues to be used by a third party for access to an oil well and storage tank area. An engineering stability evaluation was required for Pit 4 haul road as a part of the June 26, 1990 Settlement Agreement. Grassy Gap TOJ 6/5/2009 8