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-` May 11, 1986 T0: Mike Weigand, Chief Engineer FROM: Tim Chervick, Lab/Environmental Technician SUBJECT: HYDROCHLORIC ACID SPILL AT DESERADO MINE WATER TREATMENT PLANT Due to a faulty valve in the sight-gauge circuit of the Water Treatment Plant HCL tank, concentrated HCL leaked into the concrete containment basin at the base of the tank. The HCL tank was recently filled with 2,000 gallons of acid on Friday, Piay 9th via tanker truck contractor. It is estimated the spill occurred sometime prior to 1200 hours and discovered at 1300 hours. Western Fuels Security Officer Wayne Johns, who also is a member of the Rangely Fire Department Hazardous Materials Unit, arrived on the scene at 1400 hours after Western Fuels Personnel managed to shut off a flow valve that was feeding the damaged circuit. The Mine Manager and Safety Director instructed Mr. Johns to contact the Rangely Fire Department to help in neutralizing the acid with the proper safety equipment. The Rangely Fire Department used a soda ash agent at first and then through contacts with E.P.A., Mr. Bennet Young, rock dust at the minesite was used (Powdered Calcium Carbonate). The powdered limestone gave off less by-products than the soda ash mixture. Approximated 1500 gallons of HCL were spilled, yielding a 6-12 inch stream approximately 2"deep and 100 yards long. Due to the steep rocky nature of the spill site, cleanup operations consisted of hand shoveling into 5 mil plastic bags and placed in type 17-H D.O.T. barrels after mixing the soil with rock dust to a neutral pH of 7. No surface water impoundments or streams were contaminated by the spill since the accident occurred at the mouth of an un-named tributary to Scullion Gulch. An earthen dam was constructed below the spill area in case of rainfall event during cleanup. Dry weather prevailed during the entire cleanup operation. Upon further investigation two 'y" settling cracks were noted inside the concrete containment basin, between the concrete wall of the Water Treatment building and the basin wall. These will be sealed after clean- up of acid inside the basin. Mr. Bennett Young, stated that the calcium chloride by-product formed in the rock dust-acid neutralization process is non-toxic and could be disposed of in the company owned Halandras Landfill.