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r <br />.. . <br />STATF OF COLORP~DO <br />Roy~.'.'amer, Governor <br />f.Ji ~hwayder, Acting Executive Director <br />C'edica[ed ro pro[ectlng and improving [he health and environmen[ olthe people o! <br />.4300 Cherry Geek Dr. 5. Laboratory Building <br />Cenver, Colorado 80222-1530 4210 E. 11th Avenue <br />Phone (303) 692-2000 Denver, Colorado 80220-3i 16 <br />(303) 691-0700 <br />LL.a ~ V <br />MAY 17.1996 <br />pF COQ <br />\1 irO 1 <br />•r'e~ ¢~A\~ g <br />J ~~. <br />w <br />D <br />/~16 ~' <br />May 14, 1996 <br />Mr. Richard G. Atkinson <br />Colowyo Coal Company <br />5731 State Hwy 13 <br />Meeker, CO 81641 <br />RE: Meeting of April 26, 1996 <br />CDPS Permit No. COG-850017 <br />Dear Mr. Atkinson: <br /> <br />MAY 1998 <br />RECEIVED <br />I appreciated very much the opportunity to meet with Colowyo and DMG representatives <br />to discuss the issue of releases through a manual headgate at sedimentation ponds. I felt <br />the meeting was most beneficial in assuring that all parties were clear on the issues and <br />in agreement as to how to proceed to resolve the issues. This letter summarizes the result <br />of the meeting and responds to the basic question that has been raised as to whether <br />altemate precipitation limitations apply to manual headgate releases. <br />The meeting clarified the need for Colowyo to provide both DMG and the WQCD a plan of <br />operation for ponds designed as containment ponds, but will occasionally be operated as <br />treatment ponds by manually opening the headgate. As dewatering occurs from the top of <br />the sediment storage zone, settling efficiency should be reduced when discharge occurs <br />during the treatment made. Additionally, the release of sediment through the head gate <br />seems likely if release rates are not carefully controlled and ponds frequently dredged. <br />Colowyo committed to submitting information designating which ponds will be operated as <br />containment ponds and which as treatment ponds by June 10, 1996. Once Colowyo has <br />determined which ponds are in which category, it can develop a plan of operation for <br />these ponds. It is my understanding that DMG will require a permit revision for the plan of <br />operation and/or the pond design for ponds in the active mining area. <br />The plan of operation will need to identify how Colowyo determines the need to discharge, <br />i.e., what factors are used to determine the appropriate time to open the headgate and <br />how discharges are managed when altemate limitations will be sought. Also, the plan will <br />need to convey what criteria are used to determine haw long to leave the headgate open <br />and how far the headgate is opened -these factors control rate and volume of discharge. <br />The WQCD believes that these factors can directly affect the discharge quality for <br />reasons stated in the previous paragraph. <br />COLOW~L CO• L•P• <br />HSEQ ANDS <br />3 <br />