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1.0 Introduction <br />1.1 Site Description <br />The Van 4 Mine is located on Monogram Mesa to the east of the Colorado-Utah state <br />line in the southwest corner of Montrose County, Colorado, approximately 10 miles <br />west of Naturita, Colorado, adjacent to County Road DD19. The legal description of <br />the affected area can be described as the SW 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 29, Township <br />46N, Range 17W, New Mexico Principal Meridian. The location of the Van 4 Mine is <br />shown in Figure 1-1. <br />The mine is operated by Denison Mines (USA) Corp. (Denison). The mine is not <br />currently active, but Denison plans to commence production at the mine in the future. <br />The mine is an existing facility that includes a small development rock stockpile, a <br />vertical shaft, head frame, several buildings, and ancillary mine infrastructure. <br />1.2 Purpose <br />The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division) provided a <br />Notice of Determination of Designated Mining Operation (DMO) to Denison on <br />February 8, 2008 for the Van 4 Mine. In addition, existing state mine reclamation law <br />was modified by Colorado House Bill (HB) 1161 on May 20, 2008. This new statute <br />expands the definition of a DMO to include conventional uranium mines such as the <br />Van 4 Mine. An environmental protection plan (EPP) is required for all DMOs under <br />current state law. Therefore, this EPP for the Van 4 Mine was prepared in accordance <br />with existing laws and regulations. The Van 4 Mine is currently permitted as a 110(2)d <br />with permit number M-1977-032. <br />1.3 Regulatory Framework <br />The Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Act (CMLRA) § 34-32 Colorado Revised <br />Statutes (C.R.S.) was amended via Colorado HB 1161 as signed into law by the <br />Governor on May 20, 2008. The revised statute changed the definition of a DMO to <br />include all uranium mine operations including conventional underground uranium <br />mines such as the Van 4 Mine. <br />As defined by the CMLRA § 34-32-103 (3.5)(a) C.R.S., a designated mining operation <br />means mining at which: <br />Toxic or acidic chemicals used in extractive metallurgical processing are <br />present on site; <br />Acid- or toxic-forming materials will be exposed or disturbed as a result of <br />mining operations; or <br />¦ Uranium is developed or extracted, either by in situ leach mining or by <br />conventional underground or open mining techniques. A uranium mining <br />operation may seek an exemption from designated mining operation status in <br />accordance with § 34-23-112.5(2) C.R.S. <br />1-1 <br />TA64986-Denison Mines\Task Order 4 - EPP Sunday Mines Group-Van4\Van4\FINAL Report\FINAL - Environmental Protection Plan Van4.doc