2010-04-20_HYDROLOGY - M2001017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Rick Parsons, P.E. L.G. Everist Combined Replacement Plan April 19, 2010 Page 2 of 9 Fort Lupton Pit Section 30, T2N, R66W 0203040 Lupton Meadows Pit Section 30, T2N, R66W 0203047 The required fee of $1285 (5 x $257) has been submitted. L. G. Everist anticipates to actively mine four sites in 2010 and 2011: Lohmann Pit, Rinn Valley Pit, Fort Lupton Pit and Lupton Meadows Pit. Depletions resulting from evaporation and mining operations at these sites are replaced under this plan. Water use at these sites during the period of this plan will include dewatering, evaporation from exposed groundwater, aggregate production, dust control and concrete batching. L. G. Everist does not anticipate actively mining the Firestone Pit during the period of the SWSP. The exposed surface area at the Firestone Pit consists of 7.54 acres. Depletions resulting from evaporation will be replaced under this SWSP. According to the information in our previous SWSP approval for this pit the mining ceased in March of 2005, therefore the Applicant was required to file for a permanent plan for augmentation with the water court. The dead line for filing for a plan for augmentation was February 28, 2009. You indicated that this pit was purchased by L.G. Everist and the pit is still in temporary cessation ("TC") with the Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety ("DRMS"). L.G. Everist applied for an amendment in January 2010 and will be taking it out of TC and operating with additional lands to mine once the amendment has been approved. Based on the Applicant's intention to continue mining this site there will be no requirement for filing for a permanent plan for augmentation at this time provided the amendment for the Firestone Pit is approved by the DRMS. Mining depletions from Lohmann Pit, Rinn Valley Pit and Firestone Pit are estimated to affect the Saint Vrain Creek below the Last Chance Ditch headgate. Reclamation at one of the two open cells at the Rinn Valley Pit is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2011. Mining production at this pit is not expected to change during this SWSP period, however the dewatering of this pit is expected to decrease once reclamation is started. Mining depletions from the Fort Lupton Pit and the Lupton Meadows Pit are estimated to affect the South Platte River above the Meadow Island Ditch No. 1 headgate. Reclamation of the Fort Lupton Pit is expected to start in the summer of 2011. Production will cease at the site but the dewatering is expected to continue throughout this SWSP period. The Lupton Meadows Pit is lined but the slurry wall leaks, which requires dewatering to keep the pit dry and allow access to fix the slurry wall. Mining operations will start at the Lupton Meadow Pit once mining operations cease at the Fort Lupton site. Also, mining operations at the Lupton Meadows Pit are expected to occur before the slurry wall is fixed, which is anticipated to be in the summer of 2011. Once the slurry wall is fixed the amount of dewatering is expected to decrease. The proposed replacement sources for these pits are: Rural Ditch Company shares, Lupton Bottom Ditch shares during the summer months. During the winter months the depletions will be replaced by releases from stored water in the Varra Companies 112 Pit and if needed nontributary Laramie-Fox Hills water withdrawn from well nos. 66271-F, 66273-F and 66274-F. The final reclamation plan for each site, the bond amount and the water commitment to replace depletions in the event that the operator ceases dewatering and walks away from the site are shown in Table 3 below.