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1 <br />~- . <br />•~• <br />III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ~ ~ <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF h11NERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Department of Nanual Resources <br />131 J Sherman St , Rwm 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80201 <br />Phone: (303) 866-J567 <br />FAx: 17031 dJ2~R106 <br />October 6, 1999 <br />Costilla County Planning and Zoning <br />PO Box 130 <br />San Luis CO 81152 <br />Re: Brief History of Groundwater and <br />Permit No. M-88-112 <br />To Whom it May Concern: <br />DIVISION OF <br />MINERALS <br />GEOLOGY <br />0.EC[AMATION <br />MINING•SAFE7Y <br />Bil I Owens <br />Governor <br />Greg E. Watcher <br />Executive Director <br />' M¢hael B. Long <br />Division Dneclor <br />Surface Water Contamination Problem, Sin Luis Project, <br />As promised, enctosed are three documents which very briefly outline DMG's parspective of the <br />problems at [he Battle Mountain Resources' mine site near San Luis plus adds some insight to <br />the mercury problem at the Sanchez Reservoir. All of the data is accurate and factual and not a <br />misrepresentation of the facts. <br />The July 9, 1999 presentation packet was presented to the Mined Land Reclamation Board at the <br />July 27-28, 1999 Board Hearing. The second document was presented to Michael B. Long, DMG <br />Director in July, 1999 from Harry Posey, Environmental Protection Specialist at DMG. The third <br />document was prepared by Harry Posey addressing possible sources of mercury ih the Sanchez <br />Reservoir. <br />Since these documents were typed, the following events have occurred at the mige site (not <br />necessarily in order): <br />1. BMRI installed an interim nanofiltration/RO facility to filter groundwater in the backfilled <br />West pit. BMRI set up all [he necessary equipment and initiated the process for a few days. The <br />system will run 24-hours a day as soon as BMRI can discharge the processed watler into Rito <br />Seco Creek. A permanent nanofiltration unit will be installed as soon as technical revision 26 has <br />been approved (or partially approved). <br />2. BMRI continues to pump the "window" wells, wells near the seep, at apprgximately 97 <br />gallons per minute, collectively, in order to lower the water level in [he pit. Currently, the water <br />is pumped into a collection pond where it is then pumped to the evaporation system or hauled to <br />the tailings impoundment or both. <br />3. Water Quality Control Division issued a Notice of Violation to BMRI for discharging <br />contaminated (primarily sulphate and manganese) groundwater into the Rito Secp alluvium (from <br />the West pit backfih). BMRI is required to Cease and Desis[ discharging the water. <br />