2009-11-06_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - M1977285

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USDA Dolores Public Lands Office 29211 Highway 184 PO Box 210 USDA Forest Service Dolores, CO 81323 USDI Bureau of Land Management San Juan National Forest Ph (970) 882-7296 Fax (970) 882-6841 San Juan Public Lands Center Dolores Ranger District Dolores Field Office http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/sanjuan http://www.co.blm.gov In Reply Refer To: COC 52049 ?4 l s} VIA.ER SAM PLI P-- 3809 (CO800) Date: 3, November 201O9, CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEI ESTED: / ?® Net, 7009 0820 0000 6711 0243 ?? ?J 1 Iv 1V 0 6Z0 Christy Woodward NOV 49 Denison Mines not Keclam001" 43 CFR s °n Oi ' ?nasaet'0 Dive ofOpOratiosrface Managemefflin9 1050 17th Street, Suite 950 Mining and Safety Plan Denver, CO 80265 W _?" The Colorado State Director has remanded the decision to authorize the Plan Amendment (COC 52049 074A) 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 03 17