ENFORCE21560 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

>: ~ ~• "~ STATE OF COLORADO DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY Depanmenl of Natural Resources ~~~~~ 1313 Sherman Sl., Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203 Phone: 1303) 866-3567 FAX: (3031 8328106 DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL June 6, 1997 RE$OLTRCE$ Mr. Gordon Bell Roy Romer Governor Blue Mountain Energy, Inc. lames S. Lochhead P. O. BOX 1 0 6 7 Eaeculive Direcor Rangely, Colorado 81648 M¢hael B. Long Division Director RE: NOV C-97-006, Deserado Mine Permit No. C-81-018 Dear Mr. Bell: The enclosed NOV was issued based on Jim Burnell's inspection of May 20, 1997, my subsequent review of permit requirements, annual hydrology reports, and discussion with you. Jim noted in his report that crest gage station locations were visited, "but gaging devices have been repeatedly washed out and are currently not present." The problem of gaging sites being washed out is alluded to in the annual reports, and you have indicated that some of the gages had been washed out and required replacement on an annual basis. You indicated to me that Red Wash sites 1-1 and 24-1 had functional crest gages and samplers in place until early this spring, when they were apparently washed out, but that gages had not been in place at Scullion Gulch sites 31-1 and 11-1, or the Red Wash tributary below Pond RP-1 (23-1), since you began monitoring the sites in 1995. You further indicated that you have monitored these sites on a quarterly basis and when flow was observed in the drainages. When flow was noted, you collected a grab sample and measured depth of flow at the site location as indicated on the monitoring site map. Depth of flow was converted to flow rate based on channel cross sections at the monitoring location. The violation was written for failure to maintain monitoring devices in accordance with the approved permit. Section II.C.2.e of the approved permit application describes a monitoring plan for Red Wash, Scullion Gulch, and a tributary to Red Wash which includes crest gages and single stage samplers at five separate locations (1-1, 24-1, 31-1, 11-1, and 23-1). The abatement requires submittal of an amended monitoring plan, rather than installation of the gages as specified in the current plan, due to the apparently flawed design which has resulted in frequent destruction of the sampling devices and consequent loss of data.