REP18146

• Permit No: C1980005
• IBM Index Class Name: Report
• Doc Date: 8/14/2001
• Doc Name: SENECA II MINE PN C-80-005 2000 ANNUAL HYDROLOGY REPORT REVIEW
• From: DMG
• To: SENECA COAL CO
• Permit Index Doc Type: HYDROLOGY REPORT
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

III IIIIIIIIIIIII III
999

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Depanment of Natural Resources
137 3 Sherman St., Ropm 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
August 14, 2001
Dennis Jones
Seneca Coal Company
P.O. Box 670
Hayden, CO 81639
Re: Seneca II Mine (Permit No. C-80-005)
2000 Annual Hydrology Report Review
Deaz Mr. Jones:
DIVISION OF
MINERALS
GEOLOGY
RECLAMATION
MIN ING•SAFETY
Bill Owens
Governor
Greg E Watcher
Executive Dneclor
Michael R. Long
Division Director
The Division has reviewed Seneca Coal Company's (BCC's) 2000 Annual Hydrology Report
(AHR) for the Seneca II Mine. The frequency of data collection is in compliance with the
approved monitoring plan contained in the permit document. SCC did a good job at collecting
and reporting the required data.
SCC adequately addressed the Division's comments on the 1999 AHR in a response letter dated
Mazch 29, 2000.
The Division has the following comments concerning the 2000 AHR.
1. Well SWU8 reportedly has an obstruction in the casing and a water level measurement
could not be obtained. This well is used for water level monitoring only. If the obstruction
cannot be removed, the well should be permanently sealed and an abandonment report should be
submitted to the Division. Well SWC15 was abandoned in March 1998. If appropriate, please
update the permit document to reflect the removal of Wells SWU8 and SWC15 from the
monitoring plan. This may be accomplished during the upcoming permit renewal process for the
Seneca II Mine.
2. SCC has compiled a list of Surface Water Use Agricultural Standards (Table 9) for
comparative analysis with surface water samples collected from the Seneca II Mine site. As
stated in the AHR, these standards are composed primarily of Colorado Depaztment of Public
Health and Environment (CDPHE) Regulation No. 31 standards and other agency standards.
Some standazds listed in Regulation No. 31 do apply to the Seneca II Mine site. Please note that
the stream classifications and water quality standards that directly apply to the Seneca II Mine
site are given in CDPHE Regulation No. 33. Specifically, Stream Segment description 12 and
13b of the Yampa River Basin should be used for determining compliance with water quality