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Mr. Michael S. Savage <br />June 26, 1996 -Incomplete App. <br />Page 2 <br />agrees that it approved Permit No. C-92-080 with the information currently provided in the <br />application; however, OII's lack of contemporaneous reclamation of the North Pit was not <br />approved. The Division is concerned that the North Pit may be a cause of the somewhat <br />acidic water described in the Division's Mid-Term Review. <br />When Dr. James Pendleton of our Division reviewed the designs for the Carbon Junction <br />Canyon durable rock fill, he did so in accordance with the regulatory criteria that existed <br />at the time of his review. The permit for which Dr. Pendleton's review was conducted <br />(Permit No. C-82-054, Pueblo Coal Company) has, however, since been revoked. As such, <br />OII's current permit for the Carbon Junction Mine (C-92-080) must be in compliance with <br />current regulatory criteria. <br />This is especially important in light of the fact that the currently-active gravel mining <br />operation, situated with the Carbon Junction coal mine permit boundary, was not an activity <br />approved under the revoked Carbon Junction coal mine permit (Pueblo Coal Company, <br />Permit No. C-82-054). As such, Dr. Pendleton's review did not evaluate the effects of the <br />material being placed on the rock fill by the gravel operation. <br />Finally, with regard to our statement that the rock fill "was erroneously approved," perhaps <br />a better way of stating out point was not to have used this phrase. Nevertheless, OII has <br />agreed that "steps need to be taken to provide for surface drainage containment and <br />diversion" and that "OII's consultants...are in the process of developing designs which will <br />satisfy Division concerns" (Page 6, June 18, 1996 Mid-Term Review responses). We <br />commend OII for moving forward with revising the existing Carbon Junction mine permit <br />at this time to more adequately meet current regulatory criteria. We apologize for any <br />undue concerns our comments we may have created. <br />6) A revised groundwater monitoring plan, reflecting currently-approved water quality <br />evaluation parameters, was not submitted. The Division will be happy to meet with OII <br />to discuss this revised plan; however, this TR cannot be deemed complete without the <br />revised plan. <br />7) A revised determination of the probable hydrologic consequences was not provided. As the <br />groundwater monitoring plan is required to be based upon the probable hydrologic <br />consequences determination (Rule 2.05.6(3)(b)(iv), and as the groundwater monitoring is <br />proposed to be revised, the PHC determination should be revised to reflect the revised <br />groundwater monitoring plan. <br />The PHC determination should additionally be revisited to address any new potential surface <br />water quality, quantity, and flow rate impacts that could be caused by the unreclaimed North <br />Pit and the gravel operation's placement of material on the Carbon Junction Canyon rock <br />fill. <br />