Laserfiche WebLink
load fine above ground material (200 -400 mesh) into trucks and trailers and remove the <br />material OFF -SITE to an out of State location. Under the Statutes and Colorado Supreme <br />Court case, cited above, a DMO permit is "burdensome" and should not be required. <br />CONFUSION IS CAUSED BY TWO DIFFERENT PROBLEMS IN THIS AREA. <br />Mr. Shuey is apparently unaware that there are two different problems in this area. <br />1. Our Homestead Milling Company's tailings pond (OU -7) material. <br />2. The Asarco Gold Company (OU-4) chemical recovery site, and the Yak Tunnel. <br />Mr. Shuey and the Board should not confuse nor associate the MTAA LTD's <br />Homestead Mill (OU -7) site with the Asarco Gold Company's Heap Leach (OU -4) site. <br />They were and are separate and distinct operations. Asarco used harsh chemicals that <br />today would require a DMO permit. While MTAA LTD's Homestead Mill site did not. <br />MTAA LTD'S HOMESTEAD MILL TAILINGS <br />Colorado is blessed with precious minerals resulting in considerable tax income and <br />statewide employment. These precious minerals are simply NATURAL OCCURING <br />ORGANIC MATERIAL. Whether or not they are acidic or toxic depends upon the <br />specific mineral and whether or not acidic or toxic chemicals were ADDED TO the <br />minerals. Each different set of circumstances requires a different determination. <br />Here, MTAA LTD is simply dealing with remnants of the naturally occurring <br />mineral ore that was brought to the Homestead Milling Company that operated on this site <br />from 1880 to 1941. As naturally occurring mineral ore, there is nothing acidic or toxic <br />about our material. There was no acid or toxic material placed upon the ores during or <br />after the milling process. The ores were simply crushed and separated by weight, with <br />some small pieces of ore falling into the mill tailing ponds. <br />These pond were dredged up by the EPA, placed upon MTAA LTD's site, covered, <br />and then left and seemly forgotten by the EPA, but not by the Owners, nor the City of <br />Leadville, Colorado. The City of Leadville and it's citizens want this unsightly dirt pile <br />Removed from their Historic and Industrial Zones within their City Limits, and they will <br />be happy to see the fine above ground material Removed OFF -SITE, so that they can use <br />the site for their own stated purposes and beneficial uses. <br />MTAA LTD knows of no report, nor information, that states that the Mill Tailings <br />are by nature acidic or toxic. The EPA has not shared such a report with MTAA LTD. If <br />the Mine Land Reclamation Board has any report, or legitimate information, concerning <br />the acidity or toxicity of the Mill Tailings, we hereby request a copy, so that we can <br />evaluate the information and prepare a proper response. <br />MTAA LTD, Removal Permit, Page 8 of 10 pages. <br />