2005-01-14_REVISION - M1999120 - Laserfiche WebLink

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STATE OF COLORADO DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY Department of Natural Resources 1313 Sherman St., Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203 Phone: (303) 866-3567 FAX: (303) 832$106 January 14, 2005 COLORADO DIVISION O F MIN&RALS GEOLOGY AEC LAMATIO N•MIN ING SAFETY•SC IENCE Paul G05S0 Bi11 Owens Governor Banks and Gesso, LL 720 Kipling St., Suite l 17 Russell George LakeWOOd, CG 80215 Executive Director Ronald W. Cottony Division Director Natural Resource Trustee RE: L.G. Everist, Inc, File No. M-1999-120 ~ ,/ Fort Lupton Sand and Gravel Mine112c Amendment (AM-0I) Application -Second Adequacy Review Deaz Mr. Gesso, Listed below are the second adequacy review comments for the Fort Lupton Sand and Gravel Mine 112(c) Amendment (AM- Ol) Application, File No. M-1999-120. The Division of Minerals and Geology ("Division") is required to make a recommendation no later than January 2l, 2005, therefore, your response to the following adequacy review concerns should be submitted to the Division as soon as possible. Rule 6.4.5 Exhibit E -Reclamation Plan The first adequacy review requested the Applicant to state how much mulch per acre will be applied should mulch be required for revegetation. The Applicant responded with, "The applicant has found through years of reclamation experience at various sites throughout Colorado that mulching is not always needed to promote healthy seed growth. Mulch will be used if necessary:' Based on the possibility that mulch may be needed for reclamation, the Division must assume that mulch will be used in the calculation for the bond amount for the site. In order to accurately estimate the cost for mulch, the Division must know the proposed application rate for the mulch, and, ideally, the type of mulch proposed for use. Please indicate how much mulch per acre would be applied, should mulch be required for revegetation, and what type of mulch would be used. 2. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (MRCS) commented on the plan at the site on November 18, 2004_ The Division asked that the Applicant address the issues raised in the NRCS letter. The NRCS requested that the Operator maintain slopes of 4H:1 V or less on the stockpiled topsoil. The Division agrees with the Applicant's commitment to maintain slopes of 3H:1 V or 2H:1 V as long as the stockpiles are stable in this configuration. The Construction Materials Rules and Regulations do not require slopes of 4H:1 V or less on topsoil stockpiles. The Division further agrees with the Applicant's commitment to implement slopes of 3H:1V for the sides of the water storage reservoir, as long as this is a stable configuration, rather that the MRCS proposed slopes of 4H: ] V or SH:1 V so that the water storage reservoirs aze conducive to use by wildlife. The proposed post-mined land use is for water storage reservoirs and not for wildlife habitat. Therefore the Operator is required to conform to the rules and regulations specifying parameters for water storage reservoirs and not for wildlife habitat. The Division also agrees that the approved seed mix, formerly suggested by the NRCS, and approved with the initial application, is acceptable for reclamation of the site. The Division agrees with the NRCS that some form of effective weed management must be implemented at the site. The Division will express its concerns related to the NRCS comment regarding impacts to surface and subsurface water in the Water Information comments. Rule 6.4.7 Exhibit G -Water Information 3. The Applicant has committed to installation of slurry walls in each phase prior to mining below the water table. Please submit geologic information regazding the bedrock in the area to assure that the installation of slurry walls will result in a relatively water-tight vessel, and that there aze no geologic features, such as faults, that would prevent the desired result. Office of Office of Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Active and Inactive Mines Geological Survey