HomeMy WebLinkAbout20171308.tiffVarra Companies, Inc.
Office of Special Projects
1431 East 16th Street Greeley, Colorado 80631 Telephone (970) 353-8310 Fax (970) 353-4047
Tuesday 9 May 2017
Weld County Clerk to the Board
1150 O Street
Greeley, Colorado 80632
Subject: Varra Companies, Inc. — Parcel 122 — Technical Revision to a Regular Impact (112) -
Permit Application M-2015-033 — Parcel 122 - Resource Development Project.
Materials submitted to the Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety (CRMS) - Office
of Mined Land Reclamation (OMLR) for placement for public review.
• Correspondence of 8 May 2017 from Yarn Companies, Inc. to the Colorado Office of
Mined Land Reclamation, with attending attachments.
Attachments:
• Proof of Placement - Weld County Clerk to the Board.
• Revised Exhibits (Dated 20 April 2017):
1) Exhibit E - Reclamation Plan
Your signature below acknowledges receipt of the above referenced material, as attached The
material should be added to the above referenced Application, as originally submitted to the Weld
County Clerk to the Board, and made accessible for public review.
Received On
By:
"Th
, 2017
Office of the Weld County Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners
RECEIVED
MAY 0 9 2017
WELD COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
Varra Companies, Inc. OMLR 112 Permit M2015-033
Parcel 122 - Resource Development Project Correspondence of 8 May 2017
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Varra Companies, Inc.
OFFICE OF SPECIAL PROJECTS
8120 Gage Street Frederick, CO 80516 Telephone (303) 666-6657 Fax (303) 666-6743
Tuesday 9 May 2017
To:
From:
Peter Hays, E.P.S.
Colorado Office of Mined Land Reclamation (OMLR, or 'the Office')
1313 Sherman St., #215
Denver, CO 80203
Varra Companies, Inc.
Bradford Janes, Forester
Liaison, Interdisciplinary Affairs
Pe -
Subject: Technical Revision - Parcel 122 — Resource Development Project
OMLR Permit M-2015-033
Updated Exhibit
This correspondence provides Revisions to Exhibit E — Reclamation Plan; as previously
submitted on 5 May 2017. This revision removes language in Exhibit E that conflicts with
language in Exhibit D, as submitted earlier on 5 May 2017.
Specifically, in the second paragraph of the second page of Exhibit E, the language now assures
that extraction will be consistent with extracted slopes as otherwise described in Exhibit D. The
change is consistent with our telephone conference of Monday 8 May 2017.
I trust this change removes the error and makes Exhibit E consistent with the language found in
Exhibit D respective of extracted slopes. If possible, please remove Exhibit E — Reclamation
Plan as submitted on 5 May 2017 from the record, in order to minimize any potential confusion
subsequent to the approval of this Technical Revision.
ATTACHEMENTS:
• Exhibit E — Reclamation Plan — Dated 20 April 2017
• Proof of Placement — Weld County Clerk to the Board.
cc. Garrett C. Varra, Vice -President Operations
Varra Companies, Inc.
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Exhibit E — Reclamation Plan
6.4.5 EXHIBIT E - Reclamation Plan
(1) In preparing the Reclamation Plan, the Operator/Applicant should be specific in
terms of addressing such items as final grading (including drainage), seeding,
fertilizing, revegetation (trees, shrubs, etc.), and topsoiling. Operators/Applicants
are encouraged to allow flexibility in their plans by committing themselves to
ranges of numbers (e.g., 6"-12" of topsoil) rather than specific figures.
(2) The Reclamation Plan shall include provisions for, or satisfactory explanation of,
all general requirements for the type of reclamation proposed to be implemented
by the Operator/Applicant. Reclamation shall be required on all the affected
land. The Reclamation Plans shall include:
(a) A description of the type(s) of reclamation the Operator/Applicant
proposes to achieve in the reclamation of the affected land, why each was
chosen, the amount of acreage accorded to each, and a general
discussion of methods of reclamation as related to the mechanics of
earthmoving;
(b) A comparison of the proposed post -mining land use to other land uses in
the vicinity and to adopted state and local land use plans and programs.
In those instances where the post -mining land use is for industrial,
residential, or commercial purposes and such use is not reasonably
assured, a plan for revegetation shall be submitted. Appropriate evidence
supporting such reasonable assurance shall be submitted;
(c) A description of how the Reclamation Plan will be implemented to meet
each applicable requirement of Section 3.1;
(d) Where applicable, plans for topsoil segregation, preservation, and
replacement; for stabilization, compaction, and grading of spoil; and for
revegetation. The revegetation plan shall contain a list of the preferred
species of grass, legumes, forbs, shrubs or trees to be planted, the
method and rates of seeding and planting, the estimated availability of
viable seeds in sufficient quantities of the species proposed to be used,
and the proposed time of seeding and planting;
(e) A plan or schedule indicating how and when reclamation will be
implemented. Such plan or schedule shall not be tied to any specific date
but shall be tied to implementation or completion of different stages of the
mining operation as described in Subparagraph 6.4.4(1)(e). The plan or
schedule shall include:
(i) An estimate of the periods of time which will be required for the
various stages or phases of reclamation;
(ii) A description of the size and location of each area to be reclaimed
during each phase; and
(iii) An outline of the sequence in which each stage or phase of
reclamation will be carried out.
(The schedule need not be separate and distinct from the Reclamation
Plan, but may be incorporated therein.)
(f) A description of each of the following:
Varra Companies, Inc. OMLR 112 Permit Application
Parcel 122 — Resource Development Project 20 April 2017
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Exhibit E — Reclamation Plan
(i) Final grading - specify maximum anticipated slope gradient or
expected ranges thereof;
(ii) Seeding - specify types, mixtures, quantities, and expected time(s)
of seeding and planting;
(iii) Fertilization - if applicable, specify types, mixtures, quantities and
time of application;
(iv) Revegetation - specify types of trees, shrubs, etc., quantities, size
and location; and
(v) Topsoiling - specify anticipated minimum depth or range of depths
for those areas where topsoil will be replaced.
This application provides substantial detail of features by utilizing aerial
photography ortho-rectified to near survey accuracy. This highly accurate and
detailed portrayal of the mining and reclamation is visible under Exhibit C-1:
Existing Conditions Map, Exhibit C-2: Extraction Plan Map, and, Exhibit F Reclamation Map. How reclamation will occur over affected lands is further
detailed under Exhibit L — Reclamation Costs.
As extraction progresses over planned areas in Tracts A and B; the resulting slopes
created during extraction (refer to Exhibit D — Extraction Plan) will be
concurrently modified by pushing the resulting pit bottom with a dozer until the
resulting basin slopes conform with Rule 3.1.5(7). Lands above the anticipated
final water level of the basins and within 10.0E feet below the anticipated final
water level of the basins will be graded to 3H:1 V, or flatter. Lands below 10.0
feet from the anticipated final water level of the basins will also be graded to
3H:1 V, or flatter. Naturally occurring slopes may exceed 2H:1V where not
otherwise affected by extraction activities and will not be altered as part of
reclamation unless necessary to facilitate the reclamation of affected lands.
A Backfill Notice is included with this application as an Addendum at the back of
Exhibit E — Reclamation Plan, to facilitate the use of inert fill over portions of the
extracted lands to accomplish final end -use potentials, reservoir storage, and other
mixed uses, which may include residential, commercial or industrial structures or
uses otherwise approved now or in the future by Weld County, Colorado. The
extent and nature of the reservoir represents the maximum build -out respective of
optimal extraction of commercial product and resulting final slopes.
All affected lands remaining above the anticipated high water mark of the finished
reservoirs will be capped with a minimum of six (6.0±) inches of soil, as supported
by Exhibit I & J - Soils and Vegetation Information. Timing and use of soil is
Varra Companies, Inc.
Parcel 122 — Resource Development Project 20 April 2017
OMLR 112 Permit Application 2
Exhibit E — Reclamation Plan
detailed further under Exhibit I & J - Soils and Vegetation Information and Exhibit
L — Reclamation Costs. Where compacted lands requiring revegetation exist, those
locations will be ripped prior to re -soil application. There are no known areas of
compaction at the time of this application which would require such activity; and
ripping remains a contingency of the application.
The final land configuration resulting from completed extraction will create the
Primary End Use of Developed Water Resources, forming two reservoir basins
totaling 96.49± surface acres as shown on Exhibit F: Reclamation Map. The West
Basin of Tract A comprises 5036± acres and will create a surface water area of
4630± acres at full build out. The East Basin of Tract B is 46.13+ acres and will
create a surface water area of 43.07± acres at full build out.
Since the existing lands comprised predominantly of crops, ornamental, or
introduced species; disturbed lands remaining above the static water level of the
basins (4795' elevation), will be revegetated with an enduring stabilizing cover of
predominantly native grasses (refer to Exhibit E - Table E-1: Primary/Preferred
Re -vegetation Seed Mixture). An optional seed mixture is provided under Exhibit
E - Table E-2: Optional/Default Revegetation Seed Mixture. This optional
mixture provides for the use of other genetic potential and species combinations
under failed conditions consistent with the seed mixture utilized over the pre -
disturbed lands. A wheat x wheatgrass sterile hybrid will be combined with either
applied mixture as a substitute for the use of mulch to aid establishment of newly
seeded areas.
The target for release of revegetated lands is based upon the establishment of a
stabilizing cover of predominantly native vegetation whose foliar umbrella equals
or exceeds 25 percent of the total area of the ground as measured one inch above
the native soil on a square meter basis for typical areas of reclaimed cover
achieved within five years subsequent to the completion of all extraction activities.
Lands not otherwise occupied for use as Developed Water Resources will be later
developed to the highest possible end -use, and will likely comprise mixed
agricultural, light residential, commercial or industrial uses.
Mixed use(s), may also include, but are not limited to: the retention of existing
structures as desired (e.g., portable or fixed concrete batch plant, asphalt batch
plants, recycling facilities and related structures, shop, scale-house/office; and
supporting facilities such as fuel depots, parking areas, oil and gas facilities access,
etc.) for continued industrial - commercial uses; the creation of unforeseen future
Varra Companies, Inc. ()MLR 112 Permit Application
Parcel 122 — Resource Development Project 20 April 2017
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Exhibit E — Reclamation Plan
structures, and for the use and development of on -site water resources. Since the
area of surrounding lands is a mix of these uses, the site end use will retain these
potentials.
The rate of reclamation activity, including grading, soiling and revegetation will
follow concurrently with extraction and the respective timetables identified for
extraction under Exhibit D — Mining Plan. All timetables are contingent upon
market conditions. With extraction activities anticipated to take up to 25-30 years
to complete, reclamation will add an approximately five years to this estimate,
bringing the anticipated life of the mine to 25-30± years, or the year 2045-50. The
actual end point is five (5.0±) years subsequent to the completion of all recoverable
materials and successful release of all reclamation required under the approved
State of Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety (DBMS) permit.
A Backfill Notice follows this page, as part of this Exhibit. The use of inert fill
will facilitate the timely fill of selected portions of the project areas, and related
reclamation of affected lands and use of related water resources (refer to Exhibit L
Reclamation Costs).
Varra Companies, Inc. OMLR 112 Permit Application
Parcel 122 — Resource Development Project 20 April 2017
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