Laserfiche WebLink
<br />a,S <br />4 <br /> <br />J. M. BECK & ASSOCIATES <br />a ewoo , olorado 80227 Mining & Environmental Engineering <br />Telephone (303) 985-1521 <br />Fax(303)985-1532 <br />RECEIVED E-mail: jmbeckpe@comcast.net <br />6130 W. Vassar Way <br />L k d C <br />August 6, 2010 G Q 9 2010 <br />Division of Reclamation, <br />Mining & Safety <br />Mr. Jeff Deatherage, P.E. <br />Colorado Department of Natural Resources <br />Division of Water Resources to <br />1313 Sherman Street - Room 818 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />RE: Request for Variance/Authorization for Non-Permitted Consumptive Use <br />Gold Hill Mill and Cash ?Mine, Boulder County, Colorado <br />Dear Mr. Deatherage: <br />As technical consultant to and on behalf of AGC Resources, LLC (AGC), J. M. Beck & <br />Associates is submitting this letter request seeking a Division of Water Resources (DWR) <br />issued "variance" or "authorization" to undertake and immediate and responsive environmental <br />mitigation program at AGC's Front Range Gold Project. More specifically, this request <br />addresses a proposed mitigation action that is necessary in order to: (i) eliminate a non- <br />permitted adit discharge; and, (ii) deplete surplus tailing pond water volumes that exceed <br />allowable freeboard. The mitigation action is required at the Front Range Gold Project's Cash <br />Mine and Gold Hill Mill facilities, respectively, which are located about 8 miles west of Boulder <br />on County Road 52 (Upper Sunshine Canyon) in Boulder County, Colorado. <br />The mitigation activities proposed by AGC would require the operation/pumping of a non- <br />permitted groundwater well and the temporary consumptive use of both non-decreed ground <br />water resources and impounded surface water resources at features located within Section 12• <br />T1 N; R72W - 6th PM. The sources are tributary to Gold Run Creek, Fourmile Creek, Boulder <br />Creek, and ultimately the South Platte River. In order to conduct the proposed mitigation <br />program, AGC would require concurrent authorizations from the DWR and the Division of <br />Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (DRMS) to undertake the actions, as described below. <br />Backaround <br />AGC Resources, LLC (AGC) acquired the Front Range Gold Project joint venture operating <br />interest of Mount Royale Ventures, LLC on June 15, 2010. The joint venture operating interest <br />involves two "Limited Impact 110" DRMS reclamation permits: Permit No. M 1983-141 (for the <br />Cash & Who Do Mines); and, Permit No. M 1994-117 (for the Gold Hill Mill). AGC subsequently <br />filed applications (and financial warranties) for "Permit Transfer/Succession 'of Operator" for <br />each permit, receiving DRMS approval (and thus, full transfer of "permittee" status to AGC) <br />effective August 2, 2010.