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"It could be very, very leachable," said Gary Grantham, who has lived along County Road 120 <br />since 1998. "Anyone down from the mine could definitely be affected. In fact, we alreativ know <br />there are wells in that part of the county that have heavy-metal contamination, but we just don't <br />know if it's from the mine. Until we have a better understanding of what's being disposed of, it's <br />hard to know what's going on." <br />That day appears to be coming soon Grantham and several of'his neighbors asked the Division <br />of Reclamation Mining & Safety for additional monitoring of Bing II's disposal site, and the <br />agency agreed. <br />"We received some concenis over the last several months," said Daniel Hernandez, a senior <br />environmental protection specialist. "We took a look at those concerns and said, `Yeah, we need <br />to take a look at that.'' <br />Hernandez said the agency is likely to include testing for a wider range of compounds in a <br />revised permit with King II by March 31, a process that would include a public comment <br />period. Testing could begin as soon as April, he said. <br />"It's over and above what we've done in the past," Hernandez said. <br />Residents caught on to the fact King II was disposing lead and mercury because of•a slip-up on <br />the coal mine operator's part, according to GCC Energy Vice President Trent Peterson. <br />"All coal extraction and beneficiation activities performed at the King II mine are exempt from <br />the TRI program.... because of this, GCCE has never reported any toxic releases until 2014," <br />Peterson wrote in an email. "The 2014 TRI reports ... were submitted due to an error on the <br />applicability determination GCCE plans to withdraw the previously submitted 2014 TRI <br />reports." <br />The EPA report shows King II disposed of' 742 pounds of lead and 5 pounds of inercuiy in <br />2014. Peterson added the "mercury content was incorrectly reported in the TRI report and <br />should have been 0.00527 pounds instead of•5 pounds." <br />Regardless, the fact King II was not required to report its production -related waste to either <br />state or federal agencies in previous years has community memnbei s disturbed. "It's scary to me <br />they don't have to report," said Cynthia Roebuck, executive director of SWCO Advocates "It <br />makes me wonder what else is being deposited there besides what accidentally got reported this <br />year." <br />Hernandez said King II is in compliance with its permit. The state agency first approved the <br />dump site at Bung I in 1991. He said based on available information, the depth to the <br />groundwater below the refuse disposal area at Bing I is about 250 feet to 300 feet. <br />"To date, we know of no adverse impacts to groundwater," he said. <br />jronnco(7durangohcrald.coin <br />Action Line <br />Not all is what it `seams' <br />with smelly gas seep <br />See all Colurnne's <br />Most Popular in News <br />Most: Read Commented Emailed <br />1. l'i oubles w nt, King ( oal <br />2. 1)uran,Go S, hoot I)vant t'1 -R's linam r director <br />leaemn <br />3. Colorado umaun', u•,uly In suppoi t of gond <br />Saniautan legi,lauou <br />4. Bi no( Sandrra take, Cololado altri young <br />P( oPl( tui a ouL fol caw own <br />5. Sports .\uthonty Mrs for bankruptcy <br />6. Con( ern, rai,ed o, er King 11 coal mine [lump <br />tuc <br />7. Steaming Bean Coffee Cu. to do,r dome Fndnu <br />m Dilinn� i <br />8. Our mlui rd in La Plata County ( i ash <br />9. Halt of La Plata County caucuses tailed to vote in <br />DA ia(r <br />10. 'Fl unday Durango Davplaimer <br />Intel Inside-' <br />Foraordmary "3 <br />Perfoi trance , <br />Outside <br />aL�; $998.99 <br />From $749 99 <br />HP ENVY -I7tTouch <br />aptop 6th Gen Intel - <br />Corer O Processor <br />Go for it <br />it9 Y tkt yr-•te �f•6§ :lit3r •. Ittf •nt5#r U, <br />� w � <br />DURANGO-EVENTS <br />THURSDAY, MARCH 3 <br />Art Genres <br />Durango Arts Center <br />---------------------------------------- <br />4, x "=,. jam• ✓' Native Cinema Reception <br />arc Toh-Alin Gallery <br />----------------------------------------- <br />Defining Spaces: New <br />Paintings by Cynthia DeBolt <br />g <br />Sorrel Sky Gallery <br />---------------------------------------- <br />'Go gle <br />View other articles on our locator mal). <br />First Thursdays Art Walk <br />Durango Arts Center <br />------------------------------------------------ <br />Map Reporta map evor NEXT EVENTS ) <br />