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Colorado <br />MEMORANDUM <br />To: Katherine Harrison- Rogers, Project Planner <br />From: Victoria Schmitt, PE <br />Date: May 20, 2011 - REVISED <br />Subject: May Day Idaho Mine Complex Variance Request Submittal Review <br />The following comments reflect engineering review of a variance request submitted on May 18, 2011. <br />Comments have been previously provided on the overall project March 24, 2011. <br />1. Variance Request Response <br />OCT 7 ti 2011 <br />Division of Reclamation, <br />Mining and Safety <br />The March 24, 2011 comment letter identified the following as required for support of a variance to county road <br />standards for the May Day mine access road: <br />1. Engineering plans showing the road is safe for its intended uses (e.g. passenger vehicles, emergency <br />vehicles, concrete trucks, sanitary pumping trucks, as applicable), stable, and not a threat to adjacent <br />wetlands. The plans need to include detailed topography, road plans and profile, road cross - sections, <br />drainage, material specifications, structural specifications, materials and compaction testing, and other <br />critical design components. The plans need to be sealed by a Professional Engineer registered in the <br />State of Colorado. <br />2. Written justification regarding safety of the road based on standard practices at mining operations. This <br />may reference MSHA or other relevant agency regulations and review. <br />3. DRMS approval of the road plans <br />4. Meeting of all seven criteria as outlined in LPLUC 66 -26 <br />The applicant has submitted Item 1 and has not submitted Items 2 - 4. Because three of the four required items <br />have not been submitted, engineering cannot currently support a variance or conduct a substantial review. <br />Planning engineering has, however, reviewed Item 1, which is construction plans, and comments are provided <br />below. Please note that comments are limited in scope as intended uses of the road have not yet been identified <br />and the grades, widths and alignment of the historic portion of the road east of the La Plata has not yet been <br />shown or addressed. <br />The March 24, 2011 comment letter stated (italics added): "A Code Variance is required for the access road — <br />for both the unpermitted portion west of the La Plata and the historic portion east of the La Plata. Please note <br />we are not requiring improvements to the historic portion of the road, although the applicant may want to <br />consider whether there are isolated areas that could be improved to address some of the most significant safety <br />issues. We are requiring that the road's limitation for routine use be thoroughly addressed including <br />identification of safe and appropriate uses of the road, and alternative emergency, rescue, and fire - fighting <br />plans in the event grades, widths, and radius prohibit fire district access." <br />PLANNING D1:P:1RJ II:NT • 970.382.6263 . • 1060 E. 2N1) AVE. • DUR: \NGD, C ol.DRAI)o • 81 301 <br />