Laserfiche WebLink
C(1', Plata Operation, Maintenance and Replacement <br />Association <br />103 Everett Street <br />Durango, CO 81303 <br />June 16, 2011 <br />Kate A. Pickford <br />Environmental Protection Specialist ,✓ <br />Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman Street, Rm. 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />Dear Ms. Pickford <br />t- t? 55S <br />Re: Weeminuche Construction Authority, Animas Glacier Gravel, File No. M -2011- <br />028, 112c Construction Materials Application <br />Thank you for the opportunity to provide comment on the proposed Animas Glacier <br />Gravel operation. The Animas La Plata Operation, Maintenance, and Replacement <br />Association (Association) will take over responsibility for operating the Animas La Plata <br />Project from the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). The provided comments are to <br />ensure that potential impacts are addressed before development. <br />Drainage for the proposed site is located on a bench above Basin Creek. The <br />Association is obligated to ensure adequate water quality is maintained within Basin <br />Creek to avoid impacts to the Animas River. Drainage from the proposed development <br />represents a risk to water quality within Basin Creek. Our comments are to ensure that <br />the runoff from the site is adequately managed. <br />It is our understanding that the proposed site plan has sediment and fresh water ponds <br />in the design. They will have several feet of freeboard in them to collect rainwater and <br />that the water from these ponds will be continuously used in the gravel operation. While <br />we agree this may be adequate for normal operations, it does not address how the <br />drainage from the site will be controlled during events such as periods of extended <br />shutdown, snow melt events, or large storm events. It seems inevitable that drainage <br />from the proposed development will reach Basin Creek. The current plan to direct the <br />runoff from the site to the sediment and fresh water ponds is adequate to meet the <br />Association's concerns provided the following issues are addressed. <br />1) The site plan includes topsoil or overburden berms be constructed along the western <br />edge of the development for the purpose of directing drainage to the sediment and <br />RECEIVED <br />✓ JUN 22 1o1ij <br />Division of Reclamation, <br />Mining & Safety <br />