2015-01-20_HYDROLOGY - M1985029

• Permit No: M1985029
• IBM Index Class Name: Hydrology
• Doc Date: 1/20/2015
• Doc Name: Stormwater Permit Requirements
• From: CDPHE
• To: High Mountain Mining Co., LLC
• Permit Index Doc Type: Hydrology Report
• Email Name: MAC
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
John W.Hickenlooper,Governor
Larry Wolk, MD,MSPH wot co10
Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer �Q " "1
Dedicated to protecting and improving the health and environment of the people of Colorado * I�
*
4300 Cherry Creek Dr.S. *,1876
Denver,Colorado 80246-1530
Phone[phone] Colorado Department
Located in Glendale,Colorado
of Public Health
www.colorado.gov/cdphe and Environment
January 20, 2015
Jim Murray, Managing Member
High Mountain Mining Co., LLC
3040 South Vallejo Street
Englewood, Colorado 80110
Re: Stormwater Permit Requirements for Industrial Activity
High Mountain Mining, LLC — Alma Placer Mine
Park County
Dear Mr. Murray:
An inspection of the Alma Placer Mine facility was conducted by the Water Quality Control Division (the
division) on December 1, 2014. High Mountain Mining, LLC is engaged in an industrial activity that is
included under the stormwater regulations as described below, but does not currently have stormwater
discharge permit coverage.
The inspection procedure consists of two parts: a review of records, and an on-site facility inspection.
Findings associated with the inspection are detailed in the enclosed inspection report. Since, the Alma
Placer Mine is not currently permitted the review of records consisted of looking at a map of the facility.
In 1987, the US Congress amended the Clean Water Act to expressly include stormwater discharges from
industrial activities as requiring Clean Water Act controls. In 1990, EPA issued regulations that require
specific industrial activities to obtain permits in order to discharge stormwater from their facilities. The
Water Quality Control Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has direction
and authority to administer stormwater permitting in Colorado through the Colorado Water Quality Control
Act, and its implementing regulations and permits.
In accordance with the Colorado Water Quality Control Act and the Colorado Discharge Permit System
Regulations 5-CCR 1002-61, CDPS discharge permit coverage is required for stormwater discharges from
specific industrial activities to surface waters of the state. Facilities engaged in the recovery of gold from
placer deposits by any method (SIC code 1041), as the primary industrial activity, are specifically required
to obtain permit coverage, unless the facility qualifies for a No-Exposure Certification, or has no potential
to discharge stormwater from its industrial activities (see below).
Industrial facilities subject to stormwater regulations, but that do not have the potential to discharge
stormwater, are not required to submit a stormwater discharge permit application to the division. Such
facilities may submit site-specific information to the division that adequately documents the retention of
all stormwater on-site in lieu of the permit application describes below. The division is not requesting a
survey of the facility rather a narrative describing the drainage characteristics of the facility. Operators
should assume that all sites have the potential to discharge unless the site-specific evaluation identifies
specific conditions, such as adequate retention volume for the runoff area. Documentation of this
condition should be submitted to the division by February 20, 2015 as part of its response to the inspection
findings.