PERMFILE47017

• Permit No: M1999002
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 3/11/1999
• Doc Name: RIO BLANCO CNTY WATER QUALITY OBJECTION LETTER
• From: RIO BLANCO CNTY DEPT OF DEVELOPMENT
• To: DMG
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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March 9, 1999
Carl B. Mount RECEIVED
j O: Division of Minerals and Geology MAR 11 1999 '~
Colorado Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215 ~..~iSi~~olMineralsgGeologY
Denver, CO 80203
RE: American Soda L.L.P. Yankee Gulch Mineral Project, File No.
M-99-002
Dear Mr. Mount:
Rio Blanco County would like to provide the following comments
for the American Soda L.L.P. Yankee Gulch Minerals Project. We have
serious concerns with reference to the hydrogeologic characterization and
proposed water-monitoring plan. The information provided in the
reclamation permit application, Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS), and other submittals for this project could lead to erroneous
conclusions by regulatory agencies and others about existing conditions
in Piceance Basin.
Significant data in the water-quality characterization in the DEIS
and reclamation permit application appear anomalous when compared
with the large database that exists for the Piceance Basin. In the
redarnation permit application, constituents in the grettndwater
identified as having high concentrations such as chromium, strontium,
mercury, cadmium, etc. (page G-3) are not found in high concentrations
in U.S.G.S. and other databases in the area. In addition, these
conclusions are inconsistent with values identified in the submitted data
on page G-6. For example, mercury is identified as having elevated levels
which, on average, exceed drinking water standards on page G-3, but
values on page G-6 show levels of 0.00005 which are below detectable
limits. Similar problems are found throughout the application.