November 17, 2020
Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety Update
Ginny Brannon, Division Director, listed several Department of Natural Resources priorities finalizing new oil and gas regulations, wildfires and inactive mines. Ginny discussed the Division’s current practice of having most employees work at home.
Jim Stark reported that coal mine inspections are continuing to occur, with aerial technology being applied.
Jim also noted the Division was updating Memorandums of Understanding between DRMS and the Water Quality Control Division and the State Historic Office. The updated MOU with WQCD will be finalized by the end of the year. CMA members have taken a keen interest in this MOU, as there remain questions of dual jurisdiction between DRMS and WQCD.
Russ Means updated the committee about the schedule for updating regulations covering hardrock mining to incorporate the provisions of House Bill 1113 adopted in 2018 requiring a “reasonably foreseeable” end date for the water treatment and updating rules pertaining to Temporary Cessation.
Russ presented to the Mined Land Reclamation Board the next day a schedule in which a draft of the proposed rules will be released the first week of December, culminating in the Mined Land Reclamation Board holding a public hearing (originally in February) at its March meeting.
Board of Health Adoption of Final TENORM Rules
The Colorado Board of Heath adopted the final version of rules covering TENORM in November, leaving many of the details to guidance documents.
Dredge and Fill
The committee received a brief update on Colorado’s consideration of developing its own dredge and fill program.
Air Quality Enterprise
The Air Pollution Control Division hosted the first of several stakeholder meetings to begin developing a fee schedule to fund the new Enterprise.
Jill Cooper mentioned a meeting organized to examine carbon sequestration.
