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.. l-" o CJl CD ''') COLORADO RIVER SALINITY STANDARDS COMPLIANCE AT THE LA PLATA MINE SAN JUAN COAL COMPANY Introduction The La Plata Coal Mine, operated by San Juan Coal Company, comprises 2100 acres and is situated along the La Plata River in San Juan County, New Mexico (FIGURE 1). The mine is located approximately 17 miles north of the city of Farmington. It has been in operation since January 1986 and produces coal from the Fruitland tormation. The La Plata Mine maintains NPDES Permit NM0029505, effective May 12, 1986. Since that date no discharge of water from the permit area has b~en reported. A portion of the runoff which drains from the disturbed areas of the mine during rainfall events flows to two mine pits (FIGURE 2). The accumulated water is supplemented by direct precipitation and by intercepted ground water. La Plata Coal Company has prepared this document in accordance with the "Policy for Implementation of the Colorado River Salinity Standards through the NPDES Permit Program" dated February 28, 1977 and prepared by the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum (APPENDIX A). For the industrial sources, the policy states that "the objective for discharges shall be a no-salt return policy whenever practicable". In recognition of situations where the no-salt return requirement for industrial sources is not practicable, the Forum has provided for permission to discharge salt upon a satisfactory demonstration that it is not practicable to prevent the discharge of all salt from an existing facility. The Forum also provides for consideration of a no-salt discharge requirement waiver in cases where the salt load reaching the 'main stem of the Colorado River is less than J A A j ] <1 ,'j j l , -~j ~ ." ,t '\ , :l (! 1 -~ J~ ._ct,"", ,_,.,;,. ;..,~,,;;;_:_-?,.. ,a..'::.o..