Laserfiche WebLink
<br />l <br />Mourrtaln Coal Company <br />w.r ~ r,rs,. <br />tsar onw as wt <br />aanrr•M, coa.ee eta <br />TN~plq,r 70~a7a.a076 <br />F~c 30J C1Y.65o6 <br />February 23, 1996 <br />R~CEIVEp BY FAX <br />FFS 2 s ~ / <br />DMQ `~ <br />1 <br />Mr. David Berry, Semio~ Errvirotunontd Protection Specialist <br />Division of Minerals sad Geology <br />O®ce of Mined Land Reelamatioa <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 21 S <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />IRe: Mountain Coal Company, R+at Elk Mlne, Permit No.C-80-007, Stormwater Event <br />(Snowmelt and Rainfall), DLcharge of Ponds from a 10-year. 24-hour Event. <br />Dear David: <br />Aa we discussed in our telephone conversation of February 21, 1996, due to the eustirrg <br />anowpack, warm temperatures and rainfall on February 20th end 21st, Mountain Cod <br />Company's West Elk Mine site experienced a 10-year, 24-hour event that necessiuted dischatge <br />t}om two sediment ponds, MB-2R and MB-3, Mountain Coal Comparry notified rho Colorado <br />Department of Public health and Environmotrt, Water Quality Control Division (WQCD), at <br />10:15 am on the 21st to discuss the details of the storm, imminent discharge, waiver of limitation <br />requirements, and reporting requirements with Mr, Jon Qubic. MCC collected pre-discharge <br />samples to determine the quality of the water that would discharge, as weU aa, upstream and <br />downstream samples to determine qudity (TSS) in the North Fork of the Gtuurieoa River. The <br />results of sampling were not available until 4:11 pm on the 21st. The discharge began u <br />approximately 1:00 pm on February 21st and dischuge samples were taken sad Bart to the <br />laboratory. The ditches were flowing full and the water levels in both ponds (h'ID-1R and MB-3) <br />appeared to be close to overtopping their respective emergency spillways. The following is a <br />synopas of significant events: <br />]2etli T_iioe <br />February 7, 1996 09:30 <br />February 9, 1996 <br />February 14th through the 21 u <br />February 14th, 16th, and 20th <br />February 1 Sth 16th 19th and 20th <br />Event <br />Pond MB-2R was discharged in endcipation of an <br />earlier than nonnd runoff <br />Discharge stopped. Level of water is the pond was <br />very low. <br />Typical atormwater events occurred. <br />Chamicd additives p2 gdlons of flocculent) were <br />added to MB-3 to settle solids. <br />Chemical additives (64 gallons told floeeulant; 200 <br />lbs, guar gum) wore added to MB-2R to settle <br />solids. <br />