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Response to DRMS Adequacy Review (1) — Cotter JD -9 Mine Reclamation Plan Amendment <br />33. Addressing Rule 6 4.21(18) (b), please describe the measures Cotter Corp. intends to take <br />to prevent wildlife from coming into contact with uranium, uranium by-products or any <br />other radionuclides. <br />The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) was informed of Cotter's intent to <br />mine and store uranium onsite. It did not recommend any additional measures <br />to protect wildlife from coming into contact with naturally occurring uranium <br />ore, uranium by- products or any other radionuclides. <br />From: Kate Pickford <br />1. Will there be a discharge from the site after the completion of reclamation? If so, has <br />CDPHE agreed to allow release of the site from the mining permit if the background <br />water quality does not comply with the discharge parameters? <br />There will be no discharge from the site after reclamation. During mining <br />operations, dewatering of the mine results in the discharge of treated mine <br />water. Once mining ceases, there are no plans for discharge from the site after <br />completion of reclamation. Cotter presently has a discharge permit from <br />CDPHE that regulates water quality of the treated mine water. <br />2. Fawn Spring discharges water from a perched aquifer. The mine contains water from a <br />perched aquifer. Is Fawn Spring connected to the mine water? If so, what is the proposed <br />monitoring plan for the spring? <br />Fawn Springs is approximately 4000 ft from the mine portal as located on the <br />U.S.G.S. topography map. The spring has been checked on several occasions <br />since 2006, and free flowing water has never been observed at the spring. The <br />spring is located in an ephemeral drainage that contains phreatophytes. There is <br />also a pothole structure in the drainage that holds water after surface runoff <br />events. When checked in 2012, the pot hole was dry indicating no continuous <br />groundwater discharge is occurring at the site. <br />Fawn Springs is located in the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation — <br />the same formation where uranium mining is occurring. Groundwater <br />11 <br />