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:, <br /> iii iiiiiiiuiiu iii <br /> STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />DCparlmCnl u( Nalur.tl RCSOUrCPS <br />131 1 Sherman 51., Ruum 215 <br />DIVISION O F <br />Denver, Colorado 80'_03 <br />Phune' (707) 866-756i MINERAL $ <br />FAX: (3031 832-8106 & <br /> GEOLOGY <br /> 0.EClAMATION <br /> MINING•SAFETY <br />September 29, 1999 Bill Owens <br /> Governor <br /> Greg E. Walther <br /> 6ecutive Ducao~ <br /> Michael B Long <br />Edward Bennett Dw~sion Dirertor <br />108 Dorris Avenue <br />Paonia, Colorado 81428 <br />Re: Citizen Complaint, Sanbom Creek Mine, Permit No. C-81-022, Oxbow Mining, <br />West Elk Mine, Permit No. C-80-007, Mountain Coal Company <br />Deaz Mr. Bennett: <br />The Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (Division) received your letter on September <br />20, 1999 that you had sent as a follow-up to your telephone call to the Division on September 14, <br />1999. The letter was in regard to your concerns of mine water discharges into the North Fork of <br />the Gunnison River from the Sanbom Creek Mine and from the West Elk Mine. Your specific <br />concern with the Sanbom Creek Mine was with afoul-smelling mine water discharge, just below <br />the town of Somerset's domestic water intake. You also mentioned two discharges from the <br />West Elk Mine, one above the town of Somerset's domestic water intake and one below the town <br />of Somerset. <br />The Division appreciates that you took the time to contact us with your concerns. The Division <br />has a regulatory requirement to conduct an inspection within ten (10) days of a written <br />complaint, if there is reason to believe that a violation of the Regulations of the Colorado Mined <br />Land Reclamation Boazd has occurred. The Division conducted a field inspection of the Sanborn <br />Creek Mine dischazge on Wednesday, September I S and Thursday, September l6, 1999. A mine <br />water discharge sample was obtained on September 16, 1999. The Division has not received the <br />results of the laboratory test yet. <br />According to Sanborn Creek Mine personnel, there aze two kinds of mine water discharge <br />currently at the mine. One type of discharge is from natural water seepage within the mine. This <br />water has a relatively clear appearance. The second type.of discharge is from the pumping out of <br />water that had been placed in the mine when the mine was flooded for fire protection. This <br />dischazge has a blackish appearance even though the discharge can be in compliance with water <br />quality regulations. The mine is required to conduct laboratory testing of the discharge for water <br />quality. <br />