2013-04-26_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - M1981185

• Permit No: M1981185
• IBM Index Class Name: GENERAL DOCUMENTS
• Doc Date: 4/26/2013
• Doc Name: Response
• From: LaPlata County
• To: DRMS
• Permit Index Doc Type: General Correspondence
• Email Name: AJW
• Email Name: GRM
• Email Name: KAP
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

JOHN W. SUTHERS
Attorney General
CYNTHIA H. COFFMAN
Chief Deputy Attorney General
DANIEL D. DOMENICO
Solicitor General
Mr. Paul Kosnik
La Plata County Attorney's Office
1099 Main Street, Suite 313
Durango, CO 81301
RE: May Day Idaho Mine Complex Roads
Dear Mr. Kosnik:
STATE OF COLORADO
DEPARTMENT OF LAW
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
1
STATE SERVICES BUILDING
1525 Sherman Street - 7th Floor
Denver Colorado 80203
Phone [phone]
August 14, 2012
I have been asked by the Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety to provide this
letter in response to your letter dated July 20, 2012 regarding (1) the Division's review and
approval of standards and safety measures associated with the existing mine roads within the
approved May Day Idaho Mine Complex permit area and (2) the Division's interest in
immediate repair of the access road at the May Day Idaho Mine Complex.
In regard to the existing mine roads within the permit area, the Division conducted a
thorough review of these roads during the conversion application (CN -01) process.
Although the roads within the permit area are pre- existing mine roads the Division did
require the Operator to submit plans to implement various safety measures to ensure that the
intended use of the roads would not impact public health, safety, welfare or the environment.
Measures required by the Division included safety berms, storm water management and
control, road stabilization, and grading. The plans approved under CN -01 are protective of
public safety and the environment.
As we discussed by phone on July 12, 2012, the Division has been actively involved
in the regulation of this site, and specifically the "illegal" access road, since November,
2008. As stated during our discussion, the current condition of the access road does present
an imminent concern to the Division with regard to potential impacts on human health,
safety, welfare, and the environment. The Division has made its position clear through
various public hearings, permitting documents, and technical correspondence with the
Operator that proper repair and stabilization of the access road is of paramount concern to the
Division and is necessary to be protective of public safety and the environment.
On May 23, 2012 the Division approved Technical Revision 2 which specifically
approved a plan for proper repair and stabilization of the access road. The repair plan
approved under TR -02 received a thorough technical review by the Division and was found