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• iii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii <br />• Cstilla Cunty Cnservancy District 999 <br />901 Church Place <br />Post Office Box 42 <br />San Luis, Colorado 81152 <br />719-b72-3213 • Fax 672-0140 <br />Questions for BMG Site Visit (June 24, 1996) <br />1. Our watershed and reclamation scientist is of the opinion that the East Pit reclamation is not <br />stable (eroded surface problems, gullies, sediment loading of Rito Seco). What is BMG going <br />to do to stabilize the East Pit Reclamation? <br />2. The cottonwood community at the easternmost end of the West Pit is caving in. All but 2 of <br />the trees in this riparian grove are dead. The last 2 are dying. The death of this patch of ofd <br />growth cottonwood seems caused by caving-in of the West Pit and dewatering of the subsur- <br />face aquifer. What mitigation steps will BMG take to address this loss of critica riparian habi- <br />tat? <br />3. Will the West Pit be completely backfilled? Are heavy metals present in the overburden <br />materials used in reclamation? Will there be a standing reservoir left in the pit? How will this <br />affect the mobilization of heavy metals? <br />4. What steps is BMG taking to stabilize the Rito Seco subsurface aquifer, including in-stream <br />flows, recharge, and vadose integrity? <br />5. What is the final close-down quantity of material in the tailings containment pond? What are <br />' the toxic substances and their quantities? a aooene tote ytox-treate ayer. What <br />L g~ abo t the~990, 1995` and 1996 leaks? What steps were taken to verify and reinforce the <br />integrity of the containment pond liners (30 mil and compacted clay lens)? <br />6. What led to the addition of height to the containment pond (tailings) dam? How much was <br />added? How does this addition affect the structural integrity of the dam? <br />7. In the event of catastrophic failure with the tailings facility, what steps has BM(i taken to <br />address possible impacts on domestic and irrigation water wells in the Rito Seco drainage <br />(including the San Luis Peoples Ditch, Town of San Luis, and Dos Hermanos ranch)? Is BMG <br />prepared to negotiate the establishment of a'tiwater escrow" account with the agricultural rights <br />it has (Rocky Mtn. Ranch and Columbian Ranch water rights) to guarantee replacement water <br />should ground water sources be contaminated with heavy metal plumes? <br />W 6....t o~@~-ti-~.c th.e- ~-~-p.~o-~-'~ h-•-c-~ a-~---~ ~2~z~P`~"""~°s'^~-`"~L~ <br />