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,_' MINE SITE EVALUATIOS Ii "'ECTION REPORT NARRATIVE PAGE 2 ., Blue Ribbon Mine General Comments This was an oversight inspection of the mine and scale facility which is about 3 miles north of the intersection of Highway' 133 and the Hubbard Creek access road (about .6 mile west of Bowie, CO). A copy of all company permits and authorizations to operate were available for review at the mine. One of the tracts of coal that is being mined is a federal subleased parcel from U. S. Steel. The copy of the federal lease held by U. S. Steel was not reviewed. The company's NPDES permit, NCO-0033553, is effective until March 31, 1987 for points 001, 002 and 003. Mine water is discharged from point 001. An enclosed discharge system was built for the disturbed area water from the main mine pad because the company is having outslope stabil- ity problems. The overflow point from the mine pad was also relocated to a more central location so water would not stand as long on the pad. tdr. Reschke said that the company was going to put durable material on the outslope area that had slumped sometime during the coming summer. Mine water was being pumped via pipe to the main settling pond located next to Hubbard Creek. The pond was discharging. During the review of the surface and ground water monitoring records, it was noted that several samples from this discharge point, #001, have had parameter levels above the daily allowable minimum. The proper authorities were notified in writing and steps were taken by the company to correct the problem. There is some question in my mind about the design and construction of the main settling pond. It is located next to a perennial stream in the flood plain. There is no emergency spillway and it appears as though the pond may short circuit. The inflow point is parallel with the primary spillway and within 100 yards. I asked Mr. Reschke about my concerns. He said there had been some communication between himself and the MLRD staff about an emergency spillway but at the present time there was no requirement because it is designed and certified as built. His comment about the second concern, the possibility of s}~ort cir- cuiting, was that they were moving away from the low point in the mine; thus reduced water flow and less pumpage. Secondly, the effluent limits were not chronically above the parameter standards. I will pursue the spillway question by reviewing the situation with the permitting branches of MLRD and OSM. If any changes on recommen- dations are forthcoming, an addendum will be made to this report. A new scale house has been buildt across the road from the main coal stockpile. The old one on SR 133 has been closed and the house portion was fenced.