Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Draft EIS for the CR Kendall Mine Closure Plan. I am commenting on behalf of Earthworks, a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to protecting communities and the environment against the adverse impacts of mining. I have been involved in this issue for many years, and Earthworks has members who live and ranch downstream of the mine.
We are relieved to see the Department require Kendall to complete a closure plan to address management of long-term quality problems at the mine, which the DEIS predicts could continue for another 100 years. Given that the mine ceased operations in 1997, this plan is long overdue.