| I) Chairman’s Report - Zeke motions that a letter of
support for the Riverwatch program be written on behalf of the committee. This is in order
since their funding is being reduced and they are going out of their way to do our lab
samples. Motion was seconded and all were in favor. Zeke speaks of a town WCRC meeting
in the evening with the agency people invited. Sandra suggests that we make it a pot-luck
dinner. Karen Hamilton volunteered to help design this event as an open house with
the possibility of the differing agencies having separate tables to talk about their
individual roles with the WCRC. Possibilities include... a survey sheet about how people
feel about the work of the WCRC, we should invite our politicians, door prize. Date is set
for Saturday October 23 or November 6th.
II) Coordinator’s Report - Army Corp Funding (non-205 authority) requires a
65% match. David Gregory of the Army Corps should be at our October meeting to explain
things. This funding is for non-coal abandoned mine reclamation activities. Zeke has given
a letter to Senator Allard asking them to watch out for our committee when this funding
comes through Congress.
Chuck Barnes made a motion that we draft a letter of request for the 205 funding
authority. This motion was seconded and all were in favor. This funding does not require
congressional approval and is made available for flood control and stream stabilization.
This funding requires a 35% (5% cash) match.
The initial reconnaissance could begin soon and requires no match and we are under no
obligation throughout that process. From that information we can then commit or withdraw.
Karen advised that we study all the different funding authorities and post it on the
web so we will all know what is potentially available.
Glen has told the Rio Bravo Basin Coalition that we will have a table at their event on
October 17th at the Community Center. Rio Bravo is a group that is interested
in environmental, artistic, and economic activities all along the Rio Grande from
Matamoros to Bear Town.
The mining museum has agreed to let CDMG make copies of its geologic and mine workings
maps. Glen will take these to Denver on the 21st and Bruce will bring them back
when he comes for the October meeting. This is an expensive process that CDMG has agreed
to do without cost to the WCRC. We will look into options for preserving the originals
from mold that grows in the humid air of the mining museum.
Chuck Barnes motioned that Glen amend the minutes to last months meeting regarding
certain conversational summaries in order to make them less offensive to certain committee
members. Motion was seconded and all were in favor.
III) EPA (WCRC team description document) Report from Karen Hamilton
The EPA team is here to help the WCRC do what it needs to do, develop a partnerships,
locate resources, help design and carry out characterization activities, and eventually
help design remediation projects. This team consists of Karen, Mike Wireman, & Diana
Hammer on the WCRC and Tina Laidlaw & Mike Wireman on the TAC. The team is designed to
unify EPA activities to work in accordance with WCRC objectives. Superfund’s
objectives are limited to working with and preparing for any property owners that wish to
come forward to settle out their liability. Superfund is not to pursue property owners to
do this. The team would make sure that any superfund activity would work through them and
by doing so, work with the WCRC since the team is part of the WCRC.
Zeke asks Karen about the proper avenue for requesting to the EPA that any property
owner buyout money they receive minus EPA expenses be made available to the WCRC as part
of our matching funds for grant money. Also, that we perform reclamation activity on these
properties, working with the EPA as we are now.
Property Owners could also get a tax right off by doing this.
Karen states that the avenue to pursue in working with EPA superfund and all other
parts of the EPA is in place now with this team and all we need to do is communicate with
the team and they will take care of whatever internal workings within the EPA are
necessary to work with WCRC objectives.
Zeke requests that we have a letter from the EPA that states the amount of time (3-5
years) that we have to work on this characterization activity, wherein we are guaranteed
freedom from superfund interference.
It is advised that Glen make up a letter to the team about these requests. Maybe the above
minutes could be considered the letter.
IV) Commodore discussion - Stephen Wardell described the county work at the
Commodore and the building of an access road above the failing cribbing so that a new
flume can be installed next year by a contractor paid by CDMG. Zeke and Karen voiced that
this work, which is a part of our over all water quality improvement program, should be
used as a cash donation from the landowner (Poxon) and an in kind donation from the
county as well as CDMG.
Bruce Stover pointed out that the amount of material moved out by the County will
really help and it already looks a lot better than it did earlier this year.
Bruce stated that CDMG will get a local contractor with a machine this fall to clear out
the channel of rocks and cribbing material and possibly put in a brace or two and get
things prepared for a more permanent fix next year which could include one of three
options...
1) The Cadillac approach would involve tearing out all the old cribbing and putting in
a concrete drainage channel with some drop structures etc. This would cost quite a bit of
money.
2) Tear out the old cribbing and rebuild similar to how it was before with pressure
treated lumber. This might be more expensive than the concrete approach because of the
material, labor and customized designing. This would look more historical.
3) Extend the existing culvert all the way from the present inlet up to the existing
drop structure and fill over the top with the present material. Rebuild the whole upper
drop structure with timber.
Zeke pointed out that if the area gets put on the historic register, we might get grant
money to rebuild the drop structure with State Historical Society money and give it the
look and feel of its natural historic setting.
Bruce has arranged for the State Historical Society person to work in conjunction with
our historic contractor (Eric Twitty) for the necessary clearances from the Army Corp to
do the preliminary work this fall.
Stephen has determined from various activities that the existing channel is very close
to the original pre-mining creek channel.
Zeke pointed out that Mr. Griswold and others need to know the progress we are making
on the Commodore project. Bruce said they should be sent the letter that outlines the
project that he sent to the Army Corp.
V) Surface Water Characterization
Perry Alspaugh pointed out that we are not likely to get the low-flow sample that we
want on Sept. 18th because this year is very wet and there will not be a normal
low-flow this year. Maybe we should postpone it until November. Various people voiced that
this may well be a ‘high’ low-flow sampling event but it
won’t be our only low flow sampling event so that things will hopefully
average out over time and we need to stay on schedule because of the commitments that many
people have already made.
The EPA is volunteering for two people to show up and help with our sampling event and
to do a 1 to 6 redundancy check of our River-watch lab work and to test for certain parts
that the River-Watch lab doesn’t normally test for. The general consensus of the
committee is that this is OK and we appreciate any help that they want to give.
Chuck Barnes makes a motion that we approve funding in the area of $3500 for a flow
meter. Glen will try and find a cheaper one if possible. Perry Alpaugh seconds the motion
(ironically, as he voiced the most original criticism - general laughter) and all were in
favor.
VI) Groundwater characterization
Zeke pointed out that Homestake, in accordance with their permit are presently
conducting a tracer study. Mike Wireman has advised that we may need to do a tracer study
of our own. If so, we should work in conjunction with the Homestake effort. Zeke advises
that we turn over the idea of whether a tracer study is in order, to the TAC committee.
Glen stated that Gareth Davies (a well known Tracer consultant) can come out here in
the next few weeks and do a reconnaissance for us at the same time that he does one on the
Animas and we can split the $6,000 cost between us. Zeke asked if our TAC committee has
the expertise to do this Tracer Reconnaissance?
Bruce replied that it is a very technical procedure and needs to be done by a
professional in the field. The purpose of the reconnaissance is to analyze the geology,
ground and surface water, shafts, etc.; to find out if it will work and if so, what would
be the best procedure, and would it give us valuable information, and what would it cost?
Bruce said that most of the watersheds he has worked in have found this to be a
valuable tool.
Chuck Barnes motioned that we go ahead with this reconnaissance. Larry Bussey seconded
and all were in favor.
Miscellaneous:
Pam Anderson spoke of the Water Sampling Health and Safety Plan and presented material
for people to view.
Karen said they expect the SAP and QAPP to be accepted but if its not then the sampling
cannot go ahead as scheduled with sec. 319 money.
Steve Russell spoke about the two re-veg test plots. We are gaining valuable
information as to what works best. We will see how these test plots survive the winter.
Glen will put this test plot information on the web sometime in October.
Meeting adjourned shortly after 4:00 PM.
Minutes submitted by:
Approved and accepted:
_________________________
__________________________
Glen Miller
Zeke Ward
Project Watershed
Coordinator Chairman
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