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TAAPPCR MINING INC. <br />August 12, 2014 <br />Mr. Ivan Franco <br />Water Resource Engineer <br />Colorado Division of Water Resources <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 818 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />Dear Mr. Franco: <br />RECEIVED <br />AUG 15 2014 <br />Division of Reclamation, <br />Mining & Safety <br />Subject: Division of Water Resources Annual Reclamation and Hydrology Report Issues <br />The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (CDRMS) submitted the 2013 <br />Annual Reclamation Report to the Colorado Division of Water Resources (DWR) for review. <br />The Division requested several items concerning hydrology and water use on the site. In <br />summary DWR was concerned about stock ponds, water well permitting and water rights <br />concerning pit and dewatering well water usage. Similar comments were received in 2011 from <br />DWR concerning the 2010 Annual Reclamation Report and were responded to at that time. <br />The first issue concerns water rights for the retention of waters in stock water ponds. Water <br />retention ponds on the mine site were initially constructed for sediment and erosion control. The <br />18 noted stock ponds within the permit occur in reclamation and are used for these purposes <br />along with providing seasonal water sources for wildlife and livestock. They all occur in <br />ephemeral drainages and none exceed the criteria for non jurisdictional dams. Trapper also has <br />multiple sediment control dams. These dams and resulting reservoirs are designed explicitly for <br />the control of waters leaving the mine -site. They are also under the jurisdiction and discretion of <br />the Division of Mining, Reclamation and Safety. Livestock water tank applications are not <br />necessary on these structures until final closure of the mine. At that time, Trapper will take the <br />necessary steps to secure water rights and applications for these structures as applicable. <br />The sediment control structures are currently operated under NPDES Permit #CO- 0032115. <br />Trapper does have a conditional water right filed under Case No. W- 1178 -77 and a decree of <br />absolution filed under Case No. 92CW70 to cover water used and impounded by these structures <br />within the mine permit boundary. Trapper also uses several wells to dewater geologic <br />formations in advance of mining operations. Dewatering the pits and surrounding geologic <br />formations is covered with well permit #22140 -F. This well permit allows water to be pumped <br />from our pits for the safety of the operation. It also permits use of this water and retention of this <br />water as needed. <br />The second issue addressed the use of monitoring wells on the mine site. Article 33 of Title 34 of <br />the Colorado Revised Statutes and the Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation <br />Board Rule 4.05.13 outline the construction and operation of hydrologic ground water monitoring <br />wells and standards as stated below: <br />P.O. Box 187 Craig, Colorado 81626 (970) 824 -4401 <br />