ENFORCE30160

• Permit No: C1982057
• IBM Index Class Name: Enforcement
• Doc Date: 1/12/1998
• Doc Name: UPSET CONDITION AT DISCHARGE POINT 006 PN CO-0000221
• From: SENECA COAL CO
• To: CDOH
• Violation No.: CV1997023
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

• • III IIIIIIIIIIIII III
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SCoelCompany Seneca Coal Company
December 29, 1997
RECEIVED
Ms. Carla Lenkey
Industrial Permits and Enforcement Program JAN X21998
Colorado Department of Health
WQCD-PE-B2
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South RlWOianpfMinA~aiSt~t~edloq~~
Denver, CO 80246-1530
RE: Upset Condition at Discharge Point 006, Permit No. CO-0000221
Dear Ms. Lenkey:
Seneca Coal Company (SCC) respectfully submits the following
information regarding the upset condition at Discharge Point 006,
Permit CO-0000221. We believe this letter will provide the
Department of Health with some additional data that may prove to
be beneficial about the events surrounding the upset condition.
Sedimentation Pond 006 is located along the Mine Entrance Haul
Road leading up to the office at the Seneca II-W Mine. Pond 006
is inspected by Seneca personnel on a daily basis just because of
the location of this pond and the fact that we have to drive by
it on our way to the minesite. If a problem is ever noticed, we
respond to it immediately to take corrective action.
Mr. Dennis Jones, SCC Hydrologist, visits the pond on a weekly
basis, to do his normal hydrologic monitoring activities related
to our NPDES permit. At the time of the upset condition, Dennis
was not doing this related field work. Due to a recent surgery he
had, SCC had hired an outside environmental consultant,
TerraMatrix, of Steamboat Springs, to take over the field portion
of his job until he was able get medical clearance to resume his
normal field duties. TerraMatrix personnel collected ~amples from
Pond 006 in the morning on Wednesday, September 17t when the
pond was discharging at a rate of 257 gpm. The total suspended
solids for this sample was 42 mg/1, which was previously reported
to you in a letter from Dennis on October 23. TerraMatrix did not
mention to Dennis or any other SCC personnel of any problems with
pond 006 and the principal spillway following their visit that
day. Some precipitation had fallen prior to the 17th, but the
main rainstorm began the next day.
I am required by our CDMG permit to inspect all of our
sedimentation ponds on a quarterly basis and submit a report of
these findings to the Division. My last quarterly inspection of
this pond on June 27th showed no problems with the principal
Seneea Coal Company • P.O. Drawer D • Hayden, Colorado 81639
Telephone [phone] • FA7( (970) 276014