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DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURC ES n~ Lnrnn. ,ov III IIIIII IIIIIII III <br />D. Monte Pascoe. Exec~t~ve Director 999 1 <br />MLNED L1~ND RECL._AMA'I'ION <br />423 Centennial Building, 1373 Sherman Street <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 Tel. (303) 866-3567 <br />David C. Shelton <br />P9ay 7, 2982 Director <br />i <br />T0: Dave Shelton & Joe 7, kind 1 <br />FROM: Jim Pendleton <br />`~ <br />i <br />RE: Preliminary lO,bservations Following a Reconnaissance Inspection <br />of the Col ony._Project's Surface Disturbances <br />The following presents a list of my preliminary observations of surface <br />disturbances and possible mitigative activities for the Colony Project. <br />I am assuming, at this preliminary stage, that our guiding concern is <br />obtaining conformance with tl~e applicable air and water quality, revege- <br />tation, wildlife, slope stability, and health and safety standards of our <br />regulations and State law. With that in mind, i present the follaring <br />observations: <br />(1) The hfiddle Fork Dam should be completed as originally designed and <br />the stream drainage reclaimed to protect the downstream mine bench and to <br />control sediment generation. <br />(2) The mine bench has reached origina_' completion, but'has now had an <br />approximately 500,000 cubic yard excavation created to receive the crusher <br />for processing mined are. This existing excavation represents a possible <br />water and sediment impoundment. With the Middle Fork Dam in place and with <br />the completion of an analutical demonstration that tl~e bench will remain <br />stable even if the excavation were to be filled with water, I suppose that <br />the excavation could be allowed to remain. It does, however, present a <br />considerable hazard to health and safety. <br />(3) Davis Gulch is a scene of absolute disturbance, including Coffer Dam, <br />stockpiles in mid-drainage with undersized culverts, numerous road distur- <br />bances, etc. This area represents a potential sediment and flood drainage <br />disaster. If the originally approved Davis Gulch Dam were to be completed <br />as designed, it would then supposedly contain all sediment and runoff waters <br />generated. At this point in time the fw ndation for the dam has been <br />excavated to bedrock and partially grouted, harever, no earthen construction <br />has occurred at the dam site at this time, <br />(9) The upgrading ridgetop plant site can be divided into several sub-areas. <br />The southern or south draw area contains a large earthen fill which has <br />reached an elevation approximately 50 feet lower than its final design grade. <br />The northern portion of the plant site, or north draw area, lacks approximately <br />6 miZZion yards of fill which probably z'epresents an additional 3 to 6 months <br />