GENERAL37543

• Permit No: M1994117
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 11/15/1995
• Doc Name: PN M-94-117
• To: COLINA ORO MOLINO INC
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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6 Sep. '94 Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) memorandum discussing COM,
Inc. tailings dam; notes tears in liner material, probable marginal containment of
6-hr. 100-year storm (approx. 3.6") but not considered prudent engineering
practice. "This office recommends a minimum freeboard during a design storm
of at least 3 feet." Recommendations include diversion ditch repair and
enlargement, use of a larger decant pipe (2' is not big enough), repair of
tears in lbe liner system, widening of dam crest to more than 9 feet when
embankment is raised to provide freeboazd.
22 Sep. '94 Notice of Violation and Board Order to COM, lnc. and.Mi Vida Enterprises;
included finding that, "On September 14. 1994 mill tailings were spilled on the
ground from two locations at the mill building and from overtopping the
tailings impoundment." Board Order was to Cease and Desist operation of the
mill and tailings impoundment until corrective actions are completed. Corrective
actions are: Submit a new permit application to the Division by November
1, 1994; Obtain an approved permit application by December 1, 1994.
2 Dec. '94 Notice of Violation from MLRD to COM, Inc. relating to non-submission of
results of water sampling; hearing set for 25 - 26 Jan. '95.
8 Dec. '94 Notice of Violation t}om MLRD to COM, Inc. relating to non-receipt of an
approved permit application as required by NOV NM-94-042 dated September 22,
1994; hearing set for 25 - 26 Jan. '95.
12 Dec. '94 Gold Hill Mill continues in a state of suspended operation due to a Cease and
Desist order issued by the Mined Land Reclamation Board (MLRD), effective
September 21, 1994. This Cease & Desist order resulted from a tailings spill that
cxcurred on or about August 14, 1994. The Boulder County Board of Zoning
adjustment has, as of December 7, 1994, denied COM, Ines appeal of the
County Zoning Staff spreviously-stated position that milling of imported ore
constitutes an industrial use not permitted in the Forestry Zone. This prohibition
specifically included "monzonite" rock from COM. Ines Mogul Tunnel operation.
Sometime during the weekend of December 10 - 11, 1994, a fitting failed at the
base of the concentrates tank in the mill, resulting in the spillage of several
thousand gallons of liquified concentrates into the interior of the mill building.
Much of the material Flowed through drainage lines into the tailings pond; some
ended up in a sump area within the building; a small yuantiry (probably less than
one hundred gallons, my estimate) Flowed out of the building onto the surrounding
ground, where it froze. As of this evening, outside spillage had been 90% - 95%
cleaned up. Mill staff plans to complete exterior cleanup tomorrow.
14 Dec. '94 Letter from MLRD to COM, Inc. acknowledging receipt 12 Dec, of a resubmittal
of a permit application for the Gold Hill Mill; letter includes 2 l!2 page list of