2004-04-28_REVISION - M1999120 - Laserfiche WebLink

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STATE OF COLOI~DO DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY Department of Natural Resources 1313 Sherman St., Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203 Phone: (303) 866-3667 fAX: (303) 832-8106 DATE: April 28, 2004 / TO: Lynn Mayer, L.G. Everist r/ VIA EMAIL ,q m -- oo f COLORADO DIVISION O F MIN SRALS GEOLOGY ftECLAMATlO N•MINING SAFETY•SUENCE Bill Owens Governor Russell George Executive Director FROM: Allen Sor nson 1/ Ronald W. Cottony ~' S . / Division Director RE: Responses to Permitting Questions for the Forthcoming Amendment Application/, "'rural Resource Trustee Fort Lupton Sand and Gravel Mine, Permit No. M-1999-120 ,/ Following are responses to the list of questions you provided by email yesterday. I have consulted with Carl Mount, Erica Crosby, and Barb Chiaponne in preparation of these responses. 1. A properly completed and executed "Permission to Enter, Mine, and Reclaim" agreement, as you provided, is adequate for permitting purposes under Rule 6.4.14. 2,3,4,5. In these questions, you are essentially looking for the flexibility to mine the phases in any sequence, to seal the reservoirs using either clay liners or slurry walls, and to specify bond amount for each phase (for both slurry and clay options) and work through DMG to assure sufficient bond is in place prior to entering a new phase. This level of flexibility in the permit would rely on communication with DMG during planning for exiting and reclaiming a phase and entering into the next phase. The only permitting mechanism available to pay for and to track these periodic communications, including review of the adequacy of a floating bond, is through the technical revision (TR) process. The current fee for a TR is $188.00 and the review period is 30 days. If you are willing to provide TRs prior to entering each permitted phase of mining, DMG can approve the forthcoming permit amendment with the flexibility you want. DMG requires that the mining plan and map exhibits to the amendment application describe in detail the location and mining limits, the depth and direction of mining, and the depths, volumes, and stockpile locations for stripping of topsoil and overburden for each phase. The reclamation plan and map exhibits would be used to describe reclamation by either slurry wall installation or clay liner, and the reclamation costs exhibit would break down the costs by phase and by slurry or clay options. The amendment application would contain a commitment to gain approval of a TR that will specify the next phase to be mined in sequence, whether a slurry wall or clay liner will be installed in the phase, a description of the reclamation underway or completed in the previous phase(s), and an updated estimate of reclamation costs and determination of the sufficiency of the posted bond. As to the question about the setback requirement for WCR 18, DMG has dealt with this issue on numerous permits and in consultation with the Attorney General's Office has established a procedure to be followed. The amendment application must specify and the maps must illustrate that the mining setback from the road is 200 feet, but that you are pursuing an agreement to mine closer. If the ageement is obtained prior to the approval of the amendment, it and the revised maps can be processed as a clarification to the application (rule 1.8.1(4), which carries no fee and can be turned around quickly by DMG. If the agreement is obtained after the amendment is approved, the revised maps must be provided with the agreement as a technical revision. cc: Carl Mount, DMG (via email) Gregg Squire, DMG (via email) Erica Crosby, DMG (via email) c9acs\LOANER MACHINE\My Documents\tt !apron pre am.doc Office of Office of Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Active and Inactive Mines Geological Survey