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<br />~~ <br />}lomestake Mining Company <br />IYATER TREATASES'f PLANT <br />I. Introduction <br />Homestake ;dining Company owns and operates the Bulldog Alountain Aline <br />near Creede, Colorado. 'the mine became operational in 1969 and was essentially <br />dry until 1971 when an internal winze was sonic 480 feet below the 9360 or main <br />tunnel level. A development drift from the winze to the vein on the 9000 Level <br />encountered an inflow of 2,600 gallons per minute after intersecting the struc- <br />ture. ASining costs, because of the water, became so severe that a water door <br />Was constructed and tl:e mine beading abandoned. <br />Continuous puw,tping has since reduced the water inflow to approximately <br />500 gallons per minute. \err development plans require that the 9000 Level be <br />advanced in order to gain access to ore reserves below the 9200 Level. 19atcr <br />voluates are expected to increase as development proceeds northward. <br />~• The pumped water discharges <br />directly into 1'lindy Gulch as per legal <br />line Company, the owner of the crater. <br />one-half mile to a confluence with lYil <br />its confluence with the Rio Grande, <br />from the main tunnel level where it flo~.as <br />agree~;ient faith the Kanahwa Uitch and Pipe- <br />Prom 1Vindy Gulch, the water flows about <br />low Greek and then another 2.5 miles to <br />Quality of the mine water is Fairly constant, even with varying floe <br />rates and different seasons of analysis. The primary pollutant known is zinc <br />but suspended solids may also become a problem once detirelopment on the 9000 Level <br />begins. Since 1975 the Bulldog Aiountain Operation has compiled extensive data <br />on the water quality of selected streams in the lJillow Creels Basin. lt'right- <br />McLaughlin Engineers were hired in 197s to study the water quality aspects and <br />portal discharge treatment of the Bulldog hlomrt ain Aline and those reports are <br />filed with the Colorado Department of health and Environmental protection Agency. <br />An NPUES Permit was issued to the Bulldog Alountain h1ine on August 29, <br />1974. This permit sets out guidelines forcing tite mine to meet "Best Practical <br />Control 'technology Currently Available" by July 1, 1977. Effluent limitations <br />were also designated in the permit and based on existing discharge analysis, only <br />zinc has been above the effluent limitations. Total zinc, under the existing <br />discharge permit must be reduced below one part per million in the treated effluent. <br />t. <br />- 150 - <br />