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iii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 999 DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY Depanmenr of Natural Resources 1313 Sherman St .Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203 Phone: 1303) 866-3567 FA%: (3031 832 8106 DATE: July 10, 1996 TO: Dan Mathews FROM: Susan Burgmaier~ RE: Roadside Portflls (C-81-0411 Permit Revision No. 2 ~~~~~~ DEPAIiTMEtdT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Roy Romer Governor lames 5. Lochhead Enecutive Dueaor Michael 8. Long Divrswn Dirpclor Per Larrryy Routten's July 3, 1996 memo, I have completed a review of portions of the Roadside Portals PR 02 application. I did a side by side comparison of the new pages with the old, in the following areas: Tab 7, Hydrologic Description and Surface Water; Tab 16, Mitigation of Impacts and Protection of the Hydrologic Balance; Tab 17, Protection of the Hydrologic Balance; Tab 18, Hydrologic Monitoring Plan; and Tab 19, Probable Hydrologic Consequences. The revised permit materials in those tabs did not exclude any information which should have been carried over and did not include any new material which should not be approved. Larry Routten asked that I pay particular attention to surface water impacts of mine discharges on the Colorado River (TDS vs suspended solids). I reviewed the permit application and the abatement plan for NOV C-96-010, which discussed the plan for settling suspended solids being discharged from the North Portal mining area. Below is my comment which can be passed on to the operator. PCC recently notified the Division of its plan to sump mine water in the mine for 3-4 days to increase the settling time for suspended solids prior to discharge through Outfall 004. Page 19-8 of the permit application, discussing the mine's effect on salinity in the Colorado River, notes that Water handling patterns in fire mine can affect the amount of salt discharged. The longer the water remains in the mined out areas, the f:igl:er tl:e salt loading. By increasing the settling time for suspended solids, PCC may well be increasing the amount of dissolved solids that will be discharged to the Colorado River. Should TDS levels in Outfall 004 show an increase since underground Bumping began, alternative methods for reduction of suspended solids may have to be employed. As PCC submits DMR's for outfall 004, TDS levels at 004 should be compared to levels prior to the rerouting and Bumping plan. If you want me to follow up on this, just send me the TDS information for 004 as you get it. Should you or the operator have questions or need more information, let me know. c: Larry Routten SLB\070896. W P STATE OF COLORADO 71tis document is saved at m:\coal\dlm\071096.