Intro of members: Joe Burkett, Wason Ranch; Jim Matush, Creede; Steve Renner, CDMG; Mark Walker, CDPHE; Scott Randall, URS; Zeke Ward, WCRC Chairman, Brian Hyde, CWCB; Les Dobson, USFS; Don Gant, Creede and Trout Unlimited; Laurie Clark, NRCS; JB Alexander, Creede; Marvin Reynolds, CSU Coop. Extension; Henry Brink, Creede; Mike Wireman, USEPA; Kirk Thompson, Agro Engineering, Kelley Thompson, Agro Engineering; Leigh Ann Vradenburg, Watershed Coordinator.

Approval of minutes: Corrections to March minutes suggested by Jim Matush: 1) Change of Marvin Reynold’s affiliation from Creede to CSU Coop. Extension, and 2) Inclusion that a proposal for work at the Solomon Wetlands was given in document form by Dan Brenneke of Weston. Motion to approve the revised March minutes made by J.B. Alexander; second made by Kelley Thompson. Motion carried.

Additions/corrections to the agenda: Under new business Zeke Ward suggested adding a discussion of TMDL’s, and approval of Mike Wireman to represent the TAC in reviewing Briant Kimball’s report.

Mike Wireman noted that Gareth Davies will be visiting the week of April 8^th.

Presentation by Kelley and Kirk Thompson of AgroEngineering: Presentation of field work and data analysis results for flood control and stream stability project, including aerial photography, topography, flood control modeling results, and watershed mapping.

Kelley indicated that Agro would have a report and potential projects by the May meeting.

Old business:

Mike Wireman briefed the committee on the decisions made by the TAC regarding the waste piles samples collected last September and future samples required. Three sites remain to be sampled: the Last Chance, and the Happy Thought Dump and Tailings piles. These samples will be subject to the same paste pH and metals extraction analyses as those conducted on the September samples. As indicated by laboratory analyses, September samples from the Ridge, Park Regent, Commodore, and Solomon piles had elevated metals concentrations relative to other sites. It was recommended by Mike Wireman and Jim Herron that samples from these sites should be collected again and analyzed by TCLP procedures. Mark Walker commented that SPLP might be a more relevant procedure if the piles are to remain where they are. Zeke Ward commented that SPLP was not necessarily consistent with the objective of characterization. Mark agreed that more sampling could be done at a later date for remedies.

Motion to approve sampling (3 new sites and hot spots of previously sampled piles) and conducting TCLP on hot spots made by J.B. Alexander; second by Joe Burkett. Motion carried.

Zeke Ward stated that this sampling should be done this month, and the Leigh Ann Vradenburg should contact Anne Pizel about access to Happy Thought.

Floodplain:

Scott Randall (URS) gave a brief update on the floodplain reconnaissance that he conducted with Mike Wireman and Leigh Ann Vradenburg on April 2, 2002. He indicated that there was no apparent seepage to the Rio Grande from the Emperious Tailings and that further geophysical investigations were necessary.

Zeke Ward stated that the TAC committee concluded that the electromagnetic method was best for our objectives, and that URS should be contracted to do the work.

Mike Wireman and Zeke listed reasons for these analyses, which included site determination for future wells and necessary information for the HECLA land transfer. Zeke indicated that we need to do this work in April if possible.

Motion to approve URS fieldwork using EM methods made by J.B. Alexander; second by Henry Brink. Motion carried.

Zeke Ward gave a rundown of the necessary reports to summarize the committee’s characterization efforts. There was some discussion about authorship, and Leigh Ann agreed that she would contact URS for report help where she deemed necessary.

Marvin Reynolds gave an update of the re-veg subcommittee’s ideas for 2002 planting. Treatments include irrigation for establishment, culled potatoes as mulch, and several of the successful treatments from previous years. Equipment needed for this year includes a gas-powered pump, hoses, and sprinklers. New tree and shrub planting this year will include red-osier dogwood, woods rose, chokecherry, lodgepole pine, bristlecone pine, and Engelmann spruce. Estimated cost for the re-veg is around $1200.

Motion to approve re-veg expenditures made by J.B. Alexander; second by Kelley Thompson. Motion carried.

Zeke indicated that a re-veg report was necessary, and Marvin agreed to speak with Steve Russell about producing one.

Sites need to be selected for the upcoming high water sampling effort. The committee recommended adding sites on the Rio Grande and Miners Creek. The committee agreed to authorize the TAC to select the sampling sites.

Zeke and Leigh Ann will construct a list of sites for approval by the TAC.

Zeke indicated that the committee should present a statement of support at the county commissioners meeting the following week. Zeke agreed to speak on behalf of the committee.

Motion to approve Zeke Ward representing the interests of WCRC at the county commissioners meeting regarding Airport Corner made by J.B. Alexander; second by Brian Hyde. Mark Walker abstained from voting. Motion carried.

Motion to approve Mike Wireman to review Briant Kimball’s report on behalf of the TAC made by Scott Randall; second by Steve Renner. Motion carried.

Mike Wireman will extend an invitation to Briant to present his findings to the committee this summer.

The committee received a letter detailing the proposed Technical Revision to the Bulldog mine permit. The TAC will review the proposal and draft a statement of approval by the next meeting.

Zeke stated that an impaired stream can be removed from the 303d list when TMDL’s are applied. Zeke reinforced the committee decision that we would not challenge the rules as they applied to sampling procedures. Joe Burkett indicated that he was not aware that the viewpoint of Wason Ranch differed from the committee. Zeke stated that WCRC was not intentionally trying to keep the 303d listing, but working to remove it by cleaning up the water, not challenging the methodology. Joe emphasized that he regretted any misunderstanding and that Wason wants to be a cooperative party with WCRC.

Zeke will invite Andrew Ross to speak with the committee.

Kirk Thompson suggested sampling Wagon Wheel Gap in May.

The next meeting will be May 1, 2002.

There is a mining conference May 7-9 in Denver.

Zeke wants someone to speak on Good Samaritan legislation at the NAAMLP conference in Utah in September.

Mark Walker is going to make a presentation about Airport Corner in Albuquerque.

Zeke indicated that we need to resume monthly sampling from the Nelson. Leigh Ann will arrange sampling efforts with Jim Matush or J.B. Gareth Davies wants to look for tracer in the samples.

Meeting Adjourned 5:30 PM

Respectfully Submitted,

Leigh Ann Vradenburg