ENFORCE34313

• Permit No: C1981019
• IBM Index Class Name: Enforcement
• Doc Date: 7/18/1994
• Doc Name: COLOWYO COAL MINE C-81-019 NOV C-94-015
• From: DMG
• To: COLOWYO COAL CO LP
• Violation No.: CV1994015
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

~..

,;:
iii iiiiiiiiniiim
999
STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Department of Natural Resources
131 7 Sherman SL, Room 21 5

Denver, Colorado BO203 I~~~~
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
DEPARTMENT Of
RES ~~I
July 1H, 1994
Mr. Jim Kiger Roy Romer
COIOwyO COaI Company LP. Governor
5731 State Highway 13 Eaecol5ve D heuor
Meeker, Colorado 81641 rtic6zei B. ~nng
Division DireUOr
RE: Colowyo Coal Mine (C-81-019)
Notice of Violation C-94-015
Deaz Mr. ICiger:
As a result of the July 14, 1994 inspection of the Colowyo Mine, the Division has issued Notice
of Violation C-94-015. The notice applies to topsoil stripping operations in the West Pit mining
area. During the inspection, the aenal extent of stnPpmg operations was surveyed. A review
of that survey data indicates there were 195 acres stnpped at that time. The approved permit
includes dramage control plans for a maximum of 124 stripped acres. Therefore, we have
determined that the operations were not in compliance with the approved mining and
reclamation plan.
Specific citations were:
Failure to conduct operations as s ecified in the Permit as necessary to revent significant
environmental harm (Rule 2.07.7(3g(a) and Techmcal Revision No. 25 of Exhibit 20 to the
approved Colowyo Mine permit).
The text states that Colowyo will not strip more than 124 acres of topsoil in the West Pit
mining azea "if the West Pit pond is the sole containment structure for water runoff and
sediment containment." Since the West Pit pond is the only permitted drainage control
structure in the West Pit mining area, the stnpping operations were out of compliance
with the approved permit.
Failure to plan and conduct mining activities to minimize disturbance to the prevailing
hydrologic balance in both the mine plan and adjacent areas.
The approved permit included a plan for runoff and sediment control on 124 acres. At
the time of the mspection there were 71 stripped acres for which no plan for minimizing
disturbance to the prevailing hydrologic balance had been approved.
Failure to design sedimentation ponds to provide adequate capacity to contain or treat runoff
resulting from 10.yeaz, 24-hour precipitation event.
Since stripping operations exceeded the initially approved 124 acres, the West Pit pond
desip~rL was not adequate to contain or treat runoff resulting from a 10-year, 24-hour
precipitation event on the 195 acres stripped.