EVERYONE HAVE THEIR LETTERS DONE?
The clock is ticking if you want to send them in. If you want to use mine as a template, feel free. Heck, cut and paste the whole thing if you want.Remember to cc Ms. Pineda at the DRMS.
John W Hickenlooper, Governor
136 State Capitol
Denver, CO 80203-1792
Governor Hickenlooper,
As you recall just 12 days before the 2010 election, you personally met with C. Stephen Guyer, CFO of Colorado Goldfields at your campaign headquarters. At the meeting Mr. Guyer described that his company was trying to bring 200-300 jobs into San Juan county and Southwestern Colorado. At the time, the Company was working with the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety on an amendment to their reclamation permit.
A hearing was held in Dec 2010 where the application was denied with the stipulation by the board that another amendment may be filed to gain approval. It was the board's feeling at this time that a speedy approval could be met and they stated at closing that they didn't want to be back hearing this matter again in a couple years.
Since that time the company has conducted business in way that not only meets what the DRMS should require, but exceeds it. The company has had plans drawn up for a dry stack tailings facility that is ecologically beneficial, of simple design, and has been used in other areas with great success.
The DRMS has found ways to delay this process at every turn
An amendment, AM03, was filed. Then the DRMS requested an amendment to the amendment. Then they considered this dry stack, which is basically designed to de-water tailings which are moved to a shed with front loader and compacted, too complex for the DRMS staff.
The DRMS has also chosen to accept two letters of objection that require another hearing to be held. Frankly, there is nothing I can find in these letters of objection that fall under DRMS or Reclamation Board jurisdiction, and would be better handled by other agencies.
Against the wishes of your Board of Reclamation, another hearing has been scheduled almost two years after the last one.
I ask that you look into this. The law demands that the extraction of minerals and reclamation in the State of Colorado are both necessary and proper, and it's the policy that both activities should be and are comparable. There's a problem in the process, Governor. The DRMS should not be this difficult to work with.
Thank you for your time,
cc:
Loretta Pineda, Director
Division of Reclamation Mining & Safety
1313 Sherman St Ste 215
Denver, CO 80203-2243
