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<br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1317 Sherman $L, Room ? 15 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone: (3031 8h6-3567 <br />FAX: (3031 87?-8106 <br />May 7, 2001 <br />Mr. 1im Snook <br />Colorado State Representative <br />House District 60 <br />State Capitol <br />200 East Colfax Street <br />Denver CO 80203-1784 <br />Re: Brief Update, San Luis Project, M-1988-112 <br />Dear Mr. Snook: <br />DIVISION OF <br />MINERALS <br />GEOLOGY <br />Rf CLAMATION <br />MINING•SAFETY <br />BJI Owens <br />Go•emor <br />Greg E Walther <br />Execmne Director <br />Michael B. Long <br />Divnion Dvector <br />Since I am lead specialist of this permitted mine, Mr. Michael B. Long, Director Division of <br />Minerals and Geology, asked that I send you a report which briefly describes act vibes at the <br />referenced mine site. <br />Battle Mountain Resources, Inc. (BMRI) was issued a reclamation permit for thi; site in 1989. <br />Mining occured in the northern portion of the permit area. Ore processing and to lings disposal <br />took place in the central and southern portions of the permit azea. The excavated pits were <br />backfilled with waste material once they were mined out. The West pit became saturated with <br />groundwater after mining ceased as expected when the permit was approved (local citizens <br />agreed that the West pit should be backfilled. See attached letter from Roger Flyttn, attorney for <br />the Peoples' Alternative Energy Services; PAES). <br />Mining activities ceased at the site in 1996. In late 1998, water quality at a point ~f compliance <br />down gradient of the West pit had an increase in total dissolved solids (TDS); one of the <br />parameters which is being monitored in the alluvial aquifer, a parameter which is a good early <br />indicator of problems that may be occurring in groundwater. In early 1999, the operator <br />discovered seepage flow along the north bank of the Rito Seco just south of the yJest pit. The <br />flow contained high concentrations of TDS, sulfate and manganese. BMRI determined that the <br />contaminated flow originated in the West pit. A plan was developed by BMRI, a~ld approved by <br />the DMG, to stop the seep and clean up the water in the West pit, the alluvial aquifer and the <br />Rito Seco. <br />The CDPHE issued BMRI a violation for dischazging process water into the Rito Seco. The <br />CDPHE listed two corrective actions. One was an order to pay a civil penalty and the other was a <br />requirement that BMRI obtain a CDPS discharge permit. BMRI complied with the corrective <br />actions. <br />~II ~I~~I~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ ~ -~ <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />