HYDRO30296

• Permit No: M1977378
• IBM Index Class Name: Hydrology
• Doc Date: 10/31/2003
• Doc Name: WQCD Permit
• From: CDPHE
• To: DMG
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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STATE OF COLORAD~
BIII Owens, Governor
Douglas H. Benevento, F~cecutive Di2ctor
Dedicated to protecting and improving the health and environment of the people of Colorado
4300 Cherry Creek Dr. S.
Denver, Coorado 80246-1530
Phone [phone]
TDD Line [phone]
Located in Glendale, Colorado
httpJlwww.edphe.state.co.us
October 29, 2003
Laboratory Services Division
8100 Lowry Blvd.
Denver, Colordo 80230.6928
[phone]
Stephen C. Fearn, President /
Gold King Mines Corporation,/
P.O. Box 299
Silverton, Colorado 81433
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Subject: Compliance Inspection of an Industrial Wastewater Treatment Facility ~~
(CDPS No. CO-0027529); Gold King Mines Corporation -American TtfSjtel'yp
Silverton, La Plata County, Colorado °~~ l'0 '~~ }
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Dear Mr. Fearn: ~°'a:;_ ~ '
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This letter serves to report the results of the compliance inspection conducted by the Techriical'~N,w
Services Unit of the Water Quality Control Division ("WQCD") on the above-referenced facility on`~
October 16, 2003. The assistance of Mr. Stephen Fearn (Gold King Mines) and Mr. Larry Perino
(Sunnyside Gold) was very helpful and greatly appreciated. I have enclosed a copy of the inspection
report for your records:
Violations
Effluent self-monitoring data was reviewed as part of this inspection. Effluent violations for pH,
total zinc, total copper, and total suspended solids have occurred in the past twelve (12)
months. WQCD-Durango understands that these past violations may have been due in part
to changes in influent wastewater characteristics, flow fluctuations, pH fluctuations, and/or low
wastewater temperatures. Gold King Mines must implement necessary operational changes
and/or corrective measures to prevent future effluent violations.
Permit Issues
These items may assist WQCD during the next discharge permit renewal or provide clarification for an
amendment to the current permit. During the inspection, WQCD-Durango observed the following
facility conditions that are not accurately represented in the permit.
2. The wastewater treatment facility is currently treating mine drainage from two (2) sources; the
American Tunnel mine drainage and the Gold King Mine # 7 Level mine drainage. During the
time of the inspection, American Tunnel drainage influent was estimated at 80 -100 gallons per
minute acid the Gold King Mine # 7 Level drainage was estimated at 6 - 7 gallons per.minute.
A modfication/amendment to your industrial wastewater discharge permit (CDPS No. CO-
0027529) is required to accurately reflect the source(s) and potential source(s) of wastewater to
be treated and discharged under coverage of this discharge permit. Please contact the
WQCD-Denver-Permits Unit at [phone] to begin the process of amending/modifying
your discharge permit.
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