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Mar 25 19 02:S1p Tw~tyi III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ny <br />C TW6NT1fMI66 <br />COAI. COMPANY <br />A Cyprus Amax Comparry <br />March 22, 1999 <br />Carla Lenkey <br />Colorado Department of Public Healllr and Environment <br />Wafer Quality Control Division <br />4300 Cherry Creek Drive South <br />Denver, Colorado 80222-1530 <br />f9~] 870-2761 <br />Twentymile Coal Company <br />29515 Routt County Road p27 <br />Oak Creek, Colorado 80467 <br />970-879-3800 <br />RE: PERMIT CO-0042161: UPSET CONDITION NOTIFICATION; OU'1'FALL 001 <br />Dear Ms. Lenkey: <br />Your oFlice waz notified on March 17, 1999, via voice wail, that mt unanticipated upset condition had <br />occurtcd on that date regarding Outfall 001 of the above referenced pemtit. I submit this letter as the written <br />report of that incident. <br />I had checked the site of Outfall 001 at approxintatcly 5 00 p. m. on March 16°i and all operations appeared <br />uonnal. On the morning of the 17°i 1 agave visited the Bile to collect water samples for Wc[ testing that was <br />iu progress. At Utat lime 1 noted in my field notes that (low from the discharge point was somewhat lower <br />than normal. Anticipating tltal tlrcre might be an electrical problem with [hc pump I also noted the <br />amperage meter reading. 1 returned to the afLce and notified our electrical department of my observations <br />and asked them to investigate. <br />Rick Mills accompanied the back to OulCall 001 to continue our own investigation. We soon discovered <br />water running out the lop of [he South Pump manhole into a containment area and seepage from under the <br />toe of the containment area's embatilctnettt that could find its way to Fish Creek. We immediately shut off <br />the pump, thereby slopping additional flow (1:15 p.nt.) to the containment area. We also collected a sample <br />of the untreated water in the containment and sent it to the lab Cor analysis. <br />The source of the upset condition was found to be a failed compression fining in the influent line causing a <br />leak, which was repaired. 1 have calculated that Flow from the leak was at a maximum rate of approximately <br />150 g.p.m. at that time. The leak to the manhole and then to the containment occurred far no more than a <br />twenty hour period, though 1 have no way of determining an average ^ow during the actual lime. The water <br />did not ever overflow the embankment, but seepage from under the ice of tlu embankment was observed at <br />several locations. Very little erosion occurred during the event, and the embankment around the rile <br />retained the water for a period of time. <br />Analysis of the water samples will be forvardcd to you. as they become available. If you require additional <br />information please call me at (970) R70.2730. <br />Twcntymilc Coal Compan11y .. ,, <br />~0~2- ~aew~c~J(II.~.1 <br />Joe Shoemaker <br />Environmeulal Specialist <br />p.2 <br />Co DMG <br />CWPS Permit No. CO-0042161 <br />