INSPEC20224

• Permit No: M1977129
• IBM Index Class Name: Inspection
• Doc Date: 8/5/2004
• Doc Name: Review of Response
• From: DMG
• To: Whitewater Building Materials
• Inspection Date: 5/11/2004
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman S[., Room 215 C Q L Q)~ D Q
Denver, Co(orad0 80203 DIVISION O F
Phone: [phone] MIN & A L $
FAX: [phone] U. ~ Q I. ~ Ci Y
0.ECLAMATION•MINING
SAFETY•SCIENCE
Bill Owens
August 5, 2004 Governor
Russell George
Mr. Edward M. Gardner / Executive Direttor
Whitewater Building Materials Corporation! - RGnala w. farany
P. O. Box 1769 Division Director
Grand Junction, Colorado 81502 Natural Resource Trustee
./
RE: Whitewater Pit 500, Permit No. M-1977-129, Review of Response to 5-11-2004 Inspection -'
Problems
Dear Mr. Gardner:
DMG has reviewed your July 14, 2004 letter responding to the problems noted in the DMG inspection
report issued for the May 11, 2004 inspection of the Whitewater Pit 500. DMG comments to your
responses are listed below in the same numbered order. Please respond to these issues as soon as
possible, but no later than the dates indicated. Failure to adequately respond by those dates may
result in an enforcement action.
1. DMG received a copy of the July 29, 2004 BLM comments regarding proposed reclamation
efforts for the portion of the Whitewater Building Materials Corp. (WBMC) permit area where they
administer the surface lands. Now that BLM comments have been received, DMG requires that
WBMC submit a revision to Permit No. M-1977-129 to incorporate the specifications for the
Inflow/outflow channels into the permit. This revision application must be submitted by
September 22, 2004 and must include updated permit maps and the required fee. DMG has the
construction specifications and the Environmental Assessment for these structures, submitted in
WBMC's July 14, 2004 correspondence. These documents can be included in the technical
revision without re-submitting these materials. WBMC may just specify that those materials are
to be included in the revision application.
2. DMG disagrees that WBMC has followed it's reclamation plans and has documented, in the May
14, 2004 inspection report, what the non-compliance issues are. This will be a tough location to
get desirable revegetation established. All the more reason to take proactive measures to
revegetate the site. DMG agrees with the reclamation recommendations specified in BLM's July
29, 2004 letter to WBMC and highly recommends that WBMC include these measures in a
revision application for this permit. WBMC must submit a proposed plan of action to DMG, no
later than September 22, 2004 for reclaiming Stage 1, X and Y, including a specific timeframe for
accomplishing these tasks, for actively monitoring revegetation success, and for follow-up efforts
if the seeding proves unsuccessful. Revegetation tasks must be completed (other than vegetative
growth) by October 27, 2004.
3. Notifying Unaweep Charolais Ranches that DMG would not allow cattle grazing on Stages 1, X
and Y is a step in the right direction, but is not considered adequate to prevent cattle grazing of
the reclamation areas. Cattle will most likely continue to graze the adjacent grazing lease areas
Once of Office of Colorado
K s