2015-08-10_REPORT - C1980007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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/T DNR CO �" COLORADO Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety Department of Natural Resources 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 John W. Hickenlooper Governor Mike King Executive Director Ginny Brannon Director T0: Jim Stark FROM: Clayton Wein C (W DATE: August 10, 2015 SUBJECTS West Elk Mine 2014 AHR As requested I have reviewed the 2014 Annual Hydrology Report (AHR) for the West Elk Mine. The report was received by the Division in a timely manner. The AHR is in compliance with the Division's Rules and follows the parameters listed in the mine's Hydrologic Monitoring Program. The details are as follows: - The 2014 AHR is complete. Monitoring at the mine was in compliance with the Division's Rules and the CWQCC Instream Numeric Standards. Discharge was not recorded at any of the NPDES points, and no water was discharged from the mine to the North Fork or to Sylvester Gulch. Water quality was not impacted by Surface water. There were no exceedances to Regulation 41 (CDPHE) for groundwater parameters. Lab tested parameters for surface water and groundwater both had elevated values 10% above baseline maximum values. Iron total, total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), and electrical conductivity frequently fluctuated. The variation in the data is likely due to a combination of seasonal precipitation changes and the holding time of the samples being shipped to the lab. Years exhibiting below average precipitation seem to have the potential to increase TDS and electrical conductivity. Water year 2014 in the West Elk area had slightly below average snow pack and close to average precipitation. There do not seem to be any trends in data indicating adverse impacts to surface or groundwater systems. 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215, Denver, CO 80203 P 303.866.3567 F 303.832.8106 http://mining. state. co. us John W. Hickentooper, Governor I Mike King, Executive Director I Virginia Brannon, Director