HYDRO23639

• Permit No: C1981022
• IBM Index Class Name: Hydrology
• Doc Date: 2/6/1995
• Doc Name: SOMERSET MINING CO AQUATIC IMPAIRMENT STUDY REPORT PN CO-0000132
• From: SOMERSET MINING CO
• To: WQCD
• Permit Index Doc Type: NPDES
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

. .
3 SOMERSET
M/ N/ N G C O M P A N Y
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Ff B ~6 1995
Division of Mino~als & Geology
February 1, 1995
Kathleen Kalamen
Colorado Department of Health
Water Qualit}' Control Division
Permits and Enforcement Section
IaQCU-PE-B2
4300 Cherr} Creeh Drive South
Denver, CO 80222-1530
RE: Somerset Mining Compan}-
Aquatic Impairment Study Report
Permit No. CO-0000132
Dear Ms. Kalamen:
iii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Enclosed is a copy of the Acjuatic Impairment Study of the Sanborn
Creek Mine Discharge, Somerset, Colorado submitted by John C.
Emerick,. Nevis E. Cook, and Susan M. Hoffineister of the Division
of Environmental Science and Engineering, Colorado School of
Mines.
Colorado School of Mines was contracted to conduct an aquatic
impairment study- for the Sanborn Creek Mine requested by the
Colorado Department of Health. The purpose of the study was to
inti~estigate possible impacts of the mine discharge on the aquatic
habitats and organisms of the North Fork of the Gunnison River.
The aquatic impairment study was conducted in accordance with
guidelines obtained from the Colorado Water Quality Control
Division (WQCD). Methods were developed following discussion
with WQCD of a draft work plan in November, 1993, and field
reconnaissznce cf the site.
The conclusions of the s±udy are that the Sanborn Creek Mine has
a minimal effect or: stream macroinvertebrates in general, that
the discharge has little, if zny', effect on the overall_ food base
for fish, and ;.hat the use of the river for fishing has not been
impaired. Somerset `;inin~ Com;~any agrees with the conclusions of
the report.
P.O. Box 535 7901 Southpark, Suite 202
Somerset, CO 81434 Littleton, Co 80120
[phone] Fax [phone] [phone] Fax [phone]