ENFORCE31562

• Permit No: C1982056
• IBM Index Class Name: Enforcement
• Doc Date: 9/20/2006
• Doc Name: E-mail Regarding NOV
• From: DRMS
• To: WQCD DOW DWR USACE
• Violation No.: CV2006006
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Hernandez, Dan
Page 1 of 1
From: Hernandez, Dan
Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 9:27 AM
To: '[e-mail]';'[e-mail]';'Light, Erin';'[e-mail]';
'Henry Austin'; Howard Strand; Cattany, Ron; Berry, David; Pineda, Loretta; Brown, Sandy
Cc: Walker, Byron
Subject: CDRMS Violation to Twentymile Coal Company
On Tuesday, September 19, 2006, the Coal Program of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources' Division of
Reclamation, Mining, and Safety issued Notice of Violation No. CV-2006-006 to Twentymile Coal Company for an accidental
discharge of slurried coal fines from the company's coal preparation operations into Foidel Creek in Routt County. This
discharge was reported to Coal Program staff by company personnel the morning of Tuesday September 12t". Company
personnel informed Coal Program staff that slurried coal fines had been observed in Foidel Creek as far as 2.8 miles from the
point of the discharge. Company personnel additionally informed Coal Program staff of certain response and remedial
measures that had been implemented by the company upon becoming aware of the discharge.
Coal Program subsequently contacted representatives with the Water Quality Control Division of the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the Colorado Division of Water Resources, the US Army Corps
of Engineers, and the US Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement to inform them of the discharge and to
discuss and coordinate appropriate jurisdictional response measures. A communiqu8 from the Coal Program to Twentymile
Coal Company was sent the morning of the 12v' that instructed the company to immediately implement certain response
measures in addition to those already implemented by the company.
Coal Program staff left our Denver office the afternoon of the 12~' to inspect the mine site, and arrived in the area of the mine
that evening. The following morning, Coal Program staff began atwo-day inspection of the mine site, the discharge area, Foidel
Creek, and other downstream watercourses. Coal Program staff obtained water samples from several points on Foidel Creek,
and submitted them to a local water quality analysis laboratory. Coal Program staff returned to the Denver office on Friday
September 15t^, and discussed with Coal Program management the observations made at the mine site. Coal Program Notice
of Violation CV-2006-006 was subsequently issued on Tuesday the 19~' . Copies of the Coal Program site inspection report and
the Notice of Violation will be sent to all appropriate parties.
The Coal Program wishes to thank personnel from the company, and from the various agencies contacted, for their cooperation
and assistance in this matter. At this time, questions regarding this matter may be directed to Dan Hernandez, Coal Program
Senior Environmental Protection Specialist, at 303-866-4933.
9/22/2006