HYDRO30633

• Permit No: M1977410
• IBM Index Class Name: Hydrology
• Doc Date: 7/9/1991
• Doc Name: RATIONALE FOR PUBLIC NOTICE
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

~• ~' COLORADO DEPARTMENT O~EALTH, Water Quality Control ~ision
Permit Number CO-0032751 Page 3 .
DISCHARGE: 001 - the discharge from the filter house which is
prior to mixing with Coon Track Creek, as shown in
figure 2 of the permit. The discharge travels through
a peat bag-natural wetland, approximately 220 feet,
before it enters Coon Track Creek. Historic drainage
from other mining sources also occurs in the vicinity
of Cross Mine.
FACILITY DESCRIPTION:
The facility is a small gold mine operation which has previously used typical
small vein underground mining techniques. Refer to figure 2 for the facility
location and site diagram. The primary product is gold, and also silver,
lead, and copper are produced. The last steady production period was during
July 1983. Since 1983, according to the 1988 permit renewal application, the
property has been under an exploration program, which primarily ha.s included
surface core drilling. Presently, the mine is not producing. Pra~iuction of
ore could only be resumed at a maximum rate of 200 tons per day if there were
extensive mine development and expansion; however, financing for this has not
yet been obtained. The previous average production rate from 1977 through 1985
vas 16.4 tons per day, with a range of zero to 33 tpd.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY DESCRIPTION:
There are a number of drainage ditch sediment traps located within the mine.
During April or May 1991, all the tunnel level water was re-routed through PVC
pipes and water ditches to prevent it from cascading down to the Fourth Level
of the mine, thus significantly reducing potential contamination s~~urces of
water in the vicinity. Treatment of mine water at the site includ~as two
rubber lined settling ponds in series operation (Pond No. 1 - 50' :{ 70'; No. 2
60' X 115') followed by the filtration building. A 50/50 mixtur~a of zeolite
and activated carbon are used in the filtration process, which has a design
capacity of 100 gpm. A second carbon/zeolite filter tank was installed during
April 1990. These two materials are stored in the 40' by 80' green steel
building which has a concrete floor and locked doors. Discharge of treated
water is from a 4 inch PVC pipe from the filtration tank. Flow measurement at
discharge point 001 has been taken with a five gallon pail and stop watch; a 4
inch McKormich meter, with a measurement range of 0 to 300 gpm, is available
and will be installed for effluent flow measurement. More recent options
which may be evaluated by the permittee for treatment at the facility include
the use of metal-eating bacteria, BIO-FIX beads, and electrowinnin;g.
MONITORING SUMMARY AND OPERATING HISTORY:
This facility has had a discharge permit since September 9, 1976. The
discharge data during 1987 through February 1991 is summarized in ,appendix
B1. According to the permittee, this data was collected at the en~i of the 4"
PVC pipe after the peat bog and before discharge to Coon Track Creak.
Additional analyses for discharge point 001 were submitted with th~a permit
application (see Appendix B2). State sampling results from 1983 through 1988
are also summarized in Appendix B3. The discharge monitoring report data
since January 1986 indicate that most discharge concentrations have exceeded