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STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 `.iherman St., Room 275 <br />DenvE:r, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone: (303) 866-3567 <br />FAX: (303) 832-8106 <br />July 2, 2004 <br />RAD O <br />O N O F <br />RALS <br />GEOLOGY <br />0.EC LAMATION•M INING <br />SAEETY•SCIENCE <br />Bill Owens <br />Governor <br />Russell George <br />' JGhn DOnrlet Ezecutive DireROr <br />~ Pathfinder Development Ronald w. canany <br />P.O. BDX 3332 Division Director <br />Telluride, CO 81435 / Natural Resource Trustee <br />Re: Pathfinder Gravel Pit, Permit M-1994-113, Technical Revision TR-04, Preliminary Adequacy Review. <br />Deaz Mr. Dourlet, <br />I received and reviewed your request for Technical Revision TR-04 to the above-named permit, which describes the <br />proposed plan to relocate a portion of the existing road, fill a small wetland, and reconstruct the wetland elsewhere <br />on the site. In the following numbered paragraphs I have listed several items that must be clarified. <br />1. The map that accompanied the revision request showed that portions of the existing road, the proposed road and <br />the relocated wetland aze located outside the pernitted azea. Please state whether Pathfinder Development is the <br />landowner of the adjacent, off-permit area. <br />2. The map shows that the proposed road will pass through part of the existing wetland, which indicates that the <br />road construction will require placement of fill material. Also, proposed topographic contours on the steeply sloped <br />latob to the north indicate that part of the knob will be removed to accommodate the road and relocated wetland <br />{Swale). Are these two activities related, e.g., will the excavated material be placed to construct the new road? <br />3. A portion of the existing road will no longer serve as access to the permitted area, though it is not cleaz if that <br />portion of the road is to be barricaded and abandoned, or simply not used for pit traffic. If it is to be barricaded <br />and/or abandoned, what type of reclamation is to be carried out there? Please clarify these items. <br />4. Wetland disturbance and construcfion activities aze regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). <br />The Swale to be constructed will replace the existing wetland, which this office assumes will conform to <br />specifications contained in the Corps permit pertaining to this matter. It has been stated that there is a Corps <br />permit, but this office has not seen evidence of such. Please provide a copy of the Corps permit or approval for <br />your proposed wetland activity. <br />5. The proposed location of the wetland Swale, as depicted on the map, extends along the tce of the slope that leads <br />down from the highway to the east. A significant part of this slope is composed of dumped fines from previous <br />highway activities. Also, a significant amount of uncontrolled drainage that originates on or near the highway <br />rE:ports to the existing wetland. These factors help to explain the presence of gullies on the slope, the deposited <br />sediment and fines at the toe, and the wetland itself. It would appeaz possible, even with the depicted straw bales, <br />t}tat uncontrolled drainage, gullying, and sediment transport may fill or overtop the Swale. Also, there is no detail <br />showing how water impounded east of the new road may drain sufficiently to maintain roadway stability. Please <br />clarify whether any upslope drainage control is to be used as part of constructing the proposed wetland. Please <br />clarify whether a culvert or other structure is to be used as part of the road construction. If no such control or <br />Once of Office of Colorado <br />