February 25, 2022
Re: Receipt of Timely Comments to a 112d Designated Mining Operation Reclamation Permit Application, Dawson Gold Mine, Permit No. M-2021-046
Dear Party and/or Interested Person:
The Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division) appreciates you taking time to participate in the review process of the Dawson Gold Mine reclamation permit application filed with our office on July 15, 2021 by Zephyr Gold USA Ltd (Applicant). The public comment period for the application closed on September 1, 2021. The decision date for the application is currently scheduled for March 31, 2022.
Because timely objections have been filed, the application will be scheduled for consideration by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board (Board), in accordance with Rule 1.4.9. The Division
will issue a recommendation to the Board for approval, approval with conditions, or denial of the application on or before the application decision date. A pre-hearing conference will be held after the Division has issued its written recommendation on the application and at least ten (10)
calendar days prior to the formal Board hearing, in accordance with Rule 2.7.1.
The Division’s recommendation and rationale for approval or denial of the application shall be sent to the Applicant and to all timely commenters at least three (3) working days prior to the pre-hearing conference.
Official notice of the date, time, and location for the pre-hearing conference and formal Board hearing will be provided to the Applicant and all timely commenters. Unless notice is waived in writing by all parties, the Division shall provide all parties at least thirty (30) days written notice of the formal Board hearing date. Any person who submits a written comment during the public comment period for the application has standing for party status. Party status is subsequently
maintained by participating in the pre-hearing conference and formal Board hearing.
An explanation of the Division’s review process, your rights as either a party or non-party, and the jurisdiction of the Board is provided in a 12-page memorandum, Guide to Public Participation, last revised on October 7, 2021, which is available on the Division’s website at
https://drms.colorado.gov/ specifically at this link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bZmZjkSOM49SMgm-YD495cEcn46RfbAh/view
Copies of all letters received have been forwarded to the Applicant for their response. The Division is currently reviewing the application for adequacy with respect to the applicable portions of the Colorado Land Reclamation Act (Act) and the Mineral Rules and Regulation of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Hard Rock, Metal, and Designated Mining Operations (Rules). The Act and Rules are available on our website at https://drms.colorado.gov/rules-and-regulations All permit files, including any correspondence regarding the application, can be viewed through our online imaged document system (Laserfiche) available on our website at https://dnrweblink.state.co.us/drms/search.aspx?cr=1 In Laserfiche, type the permit/file number into the “Permit No” field with no spaces or dashes like this “M2021046” and hit Enter or click Search. Tip: after all documents have loaded, you can organize them by date by clicking on the “Doc Date” column header. If you have any questions, you may contact me by telephone at 303-866-3567, ext. 8169 or by email at tim.cazier@state.co.us.
Sincerely,
Timothy A. Cazier, P.E.
Environmental Protection Specialist