2011-06-08_PERMIT FILE - M2011001

• Permit No: M2011001
• IBM Index Class Name: PERMIT FILE
• Doc Date: 6/8/2011
• Doc Name: Response
• From: OSE
• To: Lafarge North America, Inc.
• Email Name: PSH
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
Mr. Corey Hansen
Lafarge North America, Inc.
10170 Church Ranch Way Suite #200
Westminster, CO 80021
June 8, 2011
John W. Hickenlooper
Governor
Mike King
Executive Director
Dick Wolfe, P.E.
Director/State Engineer
RE: Lafarge West Inc. Iverson Mine (M-2011-001)
Section 34, Township 6 North, Range 66 West, 6th P.M.
Water Division 1, Water District 2, Weld County
Dear Mr. Hansen:
This letter is in response to the letter dated May 16, 2011 from Jared Dains at Applegate
Group, Inc. requesting confirmation of the adequacy of the share dedication for the proposed
Iverson Mine. According to the letter, during mining operations the site will be dewatered to
allow dry mining, so groundwater exposure during the life of the mining operation is expected to
be minimal. However, at the conclusion of mining, the proposed reclamation plan anticipates
that an unlined pond of approximately 44.4 acres in size will remain on site. The estimated net
evaporation from exposed water in the area of the proposed mining operation is 2.92 acre-
feet/acre per year based on a gross evaporation of 45 inches and average historical
precipitation of 14.2 inches, based on information obtained from the nearby Greeley UNC
climate station. Therefore, the total annual depletion that would result from the 44.4 acres of
exposed ground water is 129.72 acre-feet per year.
In accordance with the letter dated April 30, 2010 from the Colorado Division of
Reclamation, Mining, and Safety ("DRMS"), all sand and gravel mining operators must comply
with the requirements of the Colorado Reclamation Act and the Mineral Rules and Regulations
for the protection of water resources. The April 30, 2010 letter from DRMS requires that you
provide information to DRMS to demonstrate you can replace long term injurious stream
depletions that result from mining related exposure of ground water. The DRMS letter identifies
four approaches to satisfy this requirement.
In accordance with approach no. 4, you have provided a affidavit from Tim Iverson dated
May 12, 2011 that dedicates 6.25 shares of the Greeley Irrigation Company ("GIC") to the
augmentation of the sand and gravel operation assigned DRMS permit no. M-2011-001 and the
future Substitute Water Supply Plan for as long as there are depletions at the associated gravel
pits or until such time as another replacement source is obtained. In addition, the affidavit
states that the shares will not be sold, leased, or traded to others during the term of this
dedication. A copy of the affidavit is attached to this letter. This affidavit is acceptable for the
dedication of the shares; however, if the State Engineer determines that a different affidavit or
dedication process is necessary to assure proper dedication of the shares, additional
information may be required as part of the Substitute Water Supply Plan ("SWSP") approval
process.
RECE IFn
JUN 0 8 2011
Office of the State Engineer Division or Kec;&&vi uuc,.
1313 Sherman Street, Suite 818 • Denver, CO 80203 • Phone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]in and Sdety
89
www.water,state.co.us