2011-07-14_PERMIT FILE - M2011028

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IN REPLY REFER TO: PRJ -8.10 FCCD -100 Ms. Kate Pickford Environmental Protection Specialist Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 Dear Ms. Pickford: United States Department of the Interior BUREAU OF RECLAMATION Upper Colorado Region Four Corners Construction Office 103 Everett Street Durango, CO 81303 -7987 JUL 13 2011 Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the proposed Animas Glacier Gravel operation. The proposed gravel pit is bordered on the west by land obtained in fee title by the United States on behalf of the Bureau of Reclamation for use by the Animas -La Plata Project (ALP), including the Basin Creek corridor from Ridges Basin Dam and Lake Nighthorse downstream to the confluence with the Animas River. Aoti= 5 SS .i JUL 14 2011 on of , 11, Subject: Agency Comments, File No. M- 2011 -028, Animas Glacier Gravel, 112c Construction Materials Application, Animas -La Plata Project, Colorado and New Mexico As part of the ALP, Reclamation's commitment is to ensure adequate water quality is maintained in Basin Creek in order to avoid impacts to the Animas River. This commitment must be enforced. Additional sediment levels and/or turbidity transported in Basin Creek to the Animas River as a result of the gravel pit are not acceptable and will cause injury to the Government. Reclamation has gone to great expense to ensure that ALP water releases to Basin Creek are protected from degradation as they make their way to the Animas River, and development of the gravel pit must ensure that Basin Creek water quality is not compromised. As shown in the subject application, Exhibit M, pages M -88 to M -94, our comments and concerns are described in letters dated July 12, 2010 and January 19, 2011 regarding the La Plata County Class II Land Use Permit for Animas Glacier Gravel. Our concerns about the potential effect of the gravel pit on water quality in Basin Creek include but are not limited to: bulk fuel storage, spill containment and response requirements; sewage disposal system; disposal of wash and waste water; potential discharges from the concrete batch plant or asphalt plant; weed control; dust control; storm water runoff; erosion and sediment, etc. Best management practices must be utilized in development and operation of the gravel pit to avoid or minimize impacts to the area, its neighbors, and features of the ALP.