HYDRO24948

• Permit No: M1977378
• IBM Index Class Name: Hydrology
• Doc Date: 1/11/2006
• Doc Name: WQCD Violations
• From: DMG
• To: Gold King Mines Corporation
• Permit Index Doc Type: Correspondence
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Stephen Feam, Gold King Mines Corp.
WW inspection, CDPS # CO-0027529, American Tunnel
December 28, 2005 Page 3
Please mail your written response on or before February 2. 2006 to:
Gregory Brand, District Engineer
Colorado Department of Public Health ~ Environment
Water Quality Contro{ Division
P.O. Box 140
Durango, Colorado 81302
Permit Issues
These items may assist the Division during the next discharge permit renewal or to provide clariFcation
for an amendment to the current permit. During the inspection, we observed the following facility
conditions that are not accurately represented in the permit;
1. The treatment facility and the Settling Pond system are no longer in use.
2. The Settling Ponds have been removed.
3. The Outtall 004A (outfall from tfie Settling Ponds) no longer exists.
4. Mine drainage from the American Tunnel has been routed to discharge directly into Cement
Creek without treatment. The new discharge point, from a culvert into Cement Creek, has
been designated as Outfall AT-OOSA.
5. CDPS # CO-0027529 will expire on May 31, 2006. You are required to apply for re-
issuance of the permit.
Comments
The following are comments and/or recommendations only and require no written response on your
part. The recommendations will enable your system to better conform to the requirements of
applicable design criteria or other industry standards:
1. In October 2004, Gold King Mines ceased treating wastewater from. the American Tunnel and
diverted the mine drainage directly into Cement Creek.
2. At the time of inspection, there was no electrical power to any of the buildings on-site or to the
treatment facility.
3. At the time of inspection, there was approximately 1000 gallons of Nalco flocculant solution in a
tank inside the old treatment building.
4. At the time of inspection, the Settling Ponds site was being reGaimed by Sunnyside Gold
Corporation under a Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology recamation permit.
5. The Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology reclamation permit for the site is still held by
Sunnyside Gold Corporation. WQCD-Durango understands that site reclamation is planned to
start in 2006.
6. Mr. Feam explained that many of the non-compliance issues have been a result of financial
problems. Cash flow is still a problem for Gold King Mines.