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~Ia~ ~ xaow Sanborn Creek Mine iii iiiiiiiiiiiu iii RFf'FI\IFCI February zs, 1996 FEB 2y 1996 PIEMORANDUM Division of Minerals & Geo ogy To: Walter L. Wright, Mine Manager From: Thomas C. Anderson, Environmental Coordinator Subject: Diesel Fuel Spill At approximately 7:00 pm, Wednesday, February 21, 1996, the 300- gallon diesel fuel tank in the oil storage area tipped over. Following two-days of rain, and warm weather, the ground supporting the recently-filled tank became soft, causing the back legs of the tank stand to sink. When the tank fell off the stand, fuel spilled from the fill and vent openings on top of the tank. Even though the tank landed outside the primary containment berm, the spilled fuel remained r.~ithin the secondary containment by running down the embankment, and into the concrete sump below the coal dump station. Sanborn Creek Mine employee, Charles Weller, who was cleaning in the feeder area following loading of a coal train, noticed fuel bubbles on the water in the sump, and the diesel fuel odor. As he went up the ramp to investigate, fuel was still running down the ramp. Because of the rain, the sump pump was on at the time of the spill. He immediately shut off the pump, and called Surface Superintendent Bill Pecharich at home to report the spill. Bill called me at home at approximately 7:15 pm. I arrived on-site at 7:35. Bill was already on-site, and investigating in the sump area. I investigated in the discharge area of the sump, across the parking lot, and the ditch system to Pond B. Since I determined that some of the diesel fuel had been discharged from the sump, I immediately checked the water level in the pond. The water was within a foot of the emergency spillway following the rain and snow-melt run-off. Bill and I met, and quickly assessed the situation. We dispatched employees Weller and Mason Mills to place hay bales across the emergency spillway, in case the water level rose to the discharge elevation. P O. B o x 5 3 5 S o m e r s e t, C o l o r a d o e t a 3 4 U S A TEL ( 9 7 0) 9 2 9- 5 1 2 2 F A X ( 9 7 0) 9 2 9. 5 1 7 7