2009-11-06_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - M1980055HR

• Permit No: M1980055HR
• IBM Index Class Name: GENERAL DOCUMENTS
• Doc Date: 11/6/2009
• Doc Name: Soil & Water sampling
• From: BLM
• To: Denison Mines
• Email Name: RCO
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Dolores Public Lands Office
USDA
29211 Highway 184
PO Box 210
USDA Forest Service Dolores, CO 81323 USDI Bureau of Land Management
San Juan National Forest Ph [phone] Fax [phone] San Juan Public Lands Center
Dolores Ranger District Dolores Field Office
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/sanjuan hftp://www.co.bim.gov
In Reply Refer To: COC 52049 vjiTn, <&KV? b-
3809 (C0800)
Date: 3, November 20b
CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED: r /®v glee
7009 0820 0000 6711 0243 we"o 060® /
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Christy Woodward
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050s17t Street, Suite 950 Divi?ian of R tion ' Plan of0 8arations face Manageme ifflin? QN, '94r, lzbn
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Denver, CO 80265
The Colorado State Director has remanded the decision to authorize the Plan Amendment (COC
52049 07-1A) for the Topaz and Sunday Complex on September 17, 2009. The State Director
determined that adequate baseline data for the Project Area must be established prior to
implementation of any additional activities. As such, Denison Mines may only conduct
operations as authorized under the original Sunday and West Sunday Plans of Operations at this
time. No further operations, as described in the proposed Plan Amendment, may occur until
sampling of soils and water, and transect soil sampling is completed, the NEPA analysis has
been completed, mitigation measures have been identified, and adequate bonding is in place.
The Dolores Public Lands Office (BLM) has previously required that Denison Mines prepare a
geochemical analysis of waste rock materials located on the Sunday Mines (COC 52049) as part
of the Conditions of Approval for the Plan Amendment. Denison Mines prepared an
Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) as part of the requirements under State regulations for
mining and BLM's requirements under the original decision. The BLM received a copy of the
Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) for the Sunday Complex on June 5, 2009. The Plan
includes: a finalized report on geochemical characteristics of ore, proto-ore, and waste materials,
and a hydrologic model. The reports include initial data on water depths and water quality in the
area of the underground mines. Data presented is from mined areas. It is recognized that
Denison intends to continue monitoring at these sites.
Per the State Director's decision, baseline information must be provided for the following items.
• Denison must provide direct baseline data to verify whether the existing dumps are/are
not producing leachates and the water quality of any leachates.
Background levels for soils were presented in the original EA. Denison must provide
sampling data to demonstrate how any wind-blown material from the dumps may have
affected soil quality within a one-mile area of the dumps.
• Data should also be presented to demonstrate how underground mining may affect
groundwater (e.g., introduction of oxygen into the ground water). Additional data is