2010-12-14_REVISION - M1977300

• Permit No: M1977300
• IBM Index Class Name: REVISION
• Doc Date: 12/14/2010
• Doc Name: EPP- Adequacy Review
• From: DRMS
• To: Cotter Corporation
• Type & Sequence: AM2
• Email Name: DB2
• Email Name: AJW
• Email Name: DAB
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY /L
Department of Natural Resources Cf U.Z? ai"It 4
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
-ro
14 December 2010
Mr. Randy Whicker
Health Physicist / RSO
Cotter Corporation
P.O. Box 1750
Canon City, CO 81215

COLORADO
D IV IS I ON OF
RECLAMATION
MINING
- SAFETY
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
Mike King
Executive Director
Loretta E. Pineda
Director
Re: Schwartzwalder Mine, Permit No. M-1977-300, Designated Mining Operation Environmental
krotection Plan, Amendment AM-02, Adequacy Review
Dear Mr. Whicker:
The Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division) has completed its adequacy review of the
Designated Mining Operation Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) for Cotter Corporation's (Cotter or
Operator) Schwartzwalder Mine submitted 31 July 2010 as Amendment AM-02. DRMS has concluded
that the EPP as submitted does not provide adequate environmental protections as required under Hardrock
Rules 3.1.5, 3.1.6, 3.1.7, and 6.4.21. Cotter must provide the additional information requested below before
the Division can provide a decision on the EPP.
1) Rule 6.4.21 (1) - Compliance with the Provisions of the Act and Rules
The operator is under a Mined Land Reclamation Board (Board) Order, issued 11 August 2010, to
"Reinitiate mine dewatering and water discharge treatment sufficient to bring the mine water table to a
level at least 500 feet below the Steve Level, and sufficient to reestablish a hydraulic gradient away
from Ralston Creek." The operator must therefore proceed with the following:
A) Begin implementation of mine dewatering. This must be performed under a Technical Revision
(TR), to be submitted no later than 30 days after the date of this letter (which will be 13 January 2011),
which includes at a minimum the following components:
(1) A plan and schedule for setting the necessary pump(s) in the mine pool sufficient to draw down
the mine pool at a rate that creates the required hydraulic gradient within a reasonable time to be
approved by the Division. The plan should specify the route(s) of access for setting the pump(s),
whether via the underground workings to install the pump(s) from the underground, or by drilling
and intercepting the mine pool from ground surface and installing the pump(s) from above.
(2) If access for pump installation is to be gained via the underground, the operator must include in
the aforementioned plan construction details and a schedule for either excavating a new portal or
refurbishing an existing one, and refurbishing the underground workings as needed to allow safe
access and ventilation. If solicitation of one or more Request-for-Proposals (RFP) is to be included
as part of the plan, then the specifics of the solicitations including review, startup, timelines, and
deliverables will be subject to review and approval by the Division.
Office of Office of
Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines