HYDRO25628

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: Hydrology
• Doc Date: 2/26/1996
• Doc Name: Stormwater event pond discharge
• From: MOUNTAIN COAL CO
• To: DMG
• Permit Index Doc Type: NPDES
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

.~
III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
999
Mountain Coal Company
West Elk Mine
Post Ofr~ce Box 591
Somerset, Colorado 81434
Telephone [phone]
Fax [phone]
FEB 26 1996

~`
February 23, 1996
Mr. David Berry, Senior Environmental Protection Specialist
Division of Minerals and Geology
Office of Mined Land Reclamation
1313 Sherman Street, Room 215
Denver. Colorado 80203
Re: Mountain Coal Company, West Elk Mine, Permit No.C-80-007, Stornrwater Event
(Snowmelt and Rainfall), Discharge of Ponds from a 10-year, 24-hour Event.
Dear David:
As we discussed in our telephone conversation of February 21, 1996, due to the existing
snowpack, warm temperatures and rainfall on February 20th and 21st, Mountain Coal
Company's West Elk Mine site experienced a 10-year, 24-hour event that necessitated discharge
from two sediment ponds, MB-2R and MB-3. Mountain Coal Company notified the Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment, Water Quality Control Division (WQCD), at
] 0:15 am on the 21st to discuss the details of the storm, imminent discharge, waiver of limitation
requirements, and reporting requirements with Mr. Jon Qubic. MCC collected pre-discharge
samples to determine the quality of the water that would discharge, as well as, upstream and
downstream samples to determine quality (TSS) in the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The
results of sampling were not available until 4:11 pm on the 21st. The discharge began at
approximately 1:00 pm on February 21st and discharge samples were taken and sent to the
laboratory. The ditches were flowing full and the water levels in both ponds (MB-2R and MB-3)
appeared to be close to overtopping their respective emergency spillways. The following is a
synopsis of significant events:
Date Time Event
February 7, 1996 09:30 Pond MB-2R was discharged in anticipation of an
earlier than normal runoff.
February 9, 1996 Discharge stopped. Level of water in the pond was
very low.
February 14th through the 21st Typical stotTnwater events occurred.
February 14th, 16th, and 20th Chemical additives (12 gallons of flocculant) were
added to MB-3 to settle solids.
February 15th 16th 19th and 20th Chemical additives (64 gallons total flocculant; 200
lbs. guar gum) were added to MB-2R to settle
solids.