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_ WESTERN <br />)FUELS-UTAH <br />Inc. <br />_ Asnns~a~ary <br />of <br />W'es(ern Fuels <br />Assacia(ion, /nc. <br />March 16, 1995 <br />Ms. Kalhlcev Kalamev, <br />Industrial Enforcement F.ngivecr <br />Colorado Department of Health <br />Permits and Enforcement Section <br />Water Quality Control Division <br />4300 Cherry Creek Drive South <br />Deaver, Colorado 80222-1530 <br />RE: Total Settleable Solids Exceeded at Refuse Area Sedimentation Ponds <br />RP- 2/3 (Outfall #003) and RP-4 (Outfall #025). <br />Western Fuels- Utah Inc., Descrado Mine., <br />NPDES Permit No. CO-0038024. <br />Dear Ms. Kalamev, <br />III IIIIIIIIIIIII III <br />999 <br />Y~~F <br />- ~~EC <br />MqR ~~ 1995 <br />Uivigi0n of Mlnt:rais ~ Gg pio9Y <br />On March 1. Tint Chervick, W.F.U. Environmental Coordinator, was conducting a weekly check of all sediment <br />ponds at the Deserado Mine site refuse area. Refuse Arw - 5 sediment pond contained snowmelt runoff water and was <br />approximately one third full. Refuse Area 2/3 sediment povd (#(103) and Refuse Area -4 sediment povd(# 025) <br />contained a large amount of snowmelt water . Both ponds were discharging water through the decanting hole la:ated 2 <br />feet below the top of the primary discharge spillwa}' culvert. 77te decanting holes were installed during initial sedwevt <br />pond construction to decant the sediment ponds back to the 10-year twenty-Cour hour event. Refuse Pond 2/3 was <br />discharging 43 g.p.m effluent and refuse pond 4 was discharging at 26 g.p.m. Both pond effluents appeared to show <br />heavy wlloidal concentrations resulting from mowmelt runoff from We refuse areas. Refuse Sediment Pond -4 access <br />road was impassible due to muddy conditions. <br />Water quality samples were taken at each pond effluent for Total Settleable Solids using the [niltoff cove method. <br />A one liter sample was allowed to settle overnight to determine effluent compliance. <br />On March 2nd at 07:15 a.m. samples were observed for Total Settleable Solid, (see attached W.F.U. Lab Bench <br />Sheet). The Imhoff cone showed RP-2!3 effluent to contain 80 milliters per liter of settleable solids, and RP-4 effluent <br />contained 56 millifers per liter. Western Fuels NPDES discharge limit for settleable solids is 0.5 millilers per titer . <br />Mr. Tim Chervick immedialedly inspected the sediment ponds to assess whether the water quality had improved. The <br />water quality in the effluent showed no significant improvement in colloidal solids content. Mr. Chervick then called We <br />Stale of Colorado, Water Quality Control Division and left a phone message for Ms. Kathleen Kalamen explaining the <br />water qualify vriolation . Mr. Chervick Then called Mr. Jim Chubrillo. CDOH Water Quality Control Division office in <br />Steamboat Springs. Mr. Chubrillo was also unavailable al that time so a taped recording message was left for him at <br />approximately 08:20 am. <br />Mr. Chervick Wev called the Colorado Dn~ision of Minerals and Geology, Office of Mined Lavd Reclamation ,and <br />spoke to Ms. Barbara Pavlik, Lead Specialist for the Deserado Mine. Ms. Pavlik and her supervisor Mr. Larry Rounen <br />discussed the water quality problem with Mr. Chervick. Mr. Chervick nuns given permission to plug off the decant holes <br />on boW pond,. Mr. Chervick explained that some of the water was being pumped out of the ponds into a water truck <br />and being used as dust suppression on our roads. Mr. Chervick slated that we could pump down Refuse Pond 4 water <br />and drain this water into Refuse pond 2/3 so War tracks and pumping equipment could have easier access using the main <br />Deserado Mme <br />P.O.Box 1067 <br />Rangely, CO 81645 <br />Telephme 30]/675/8431 <br />Fax 303/675-5129 <br />