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STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone: (303) 866-3567 <br />FAX: (303) 832-8106 <br />February 26, 2004 <br />OLORADO <br />[VISION O F <br />IN & ALS <br />EOLOGY <br />:CAMAY ION•NINING <br />SAf ETT•SC IENCE <br />Roy Karo Bill Owens <br />~ <br />Seneca Coal Company covemor <br />P.O. Box 670 Russell George <br />Hayden, CO 81639 Executive Director <br /> Ronald W. Cottony <br />RE: Seneca II-W Mine (Permit No. C-82-057) Division Director <br />2002 and 2003 Water Year Annual Hydrology Reports Natural Resource Trustee <br />Dear Mr. Karo: <br />The Division has completed our review of the 2002 and 2003 Annual Hydrology Reports <br />(AHR's) for the Seneca II-W Mine. In general the reports were thorough and <br />comprehensive. Monitoring was conducted in compliance with permit specified schedules <br />at approved sites. The reports included appropriate data presentation and, with one <br />exception noted below, adequate discussion and evaluation of observed compliance with <br />probable hydrologic consequences permit projections. <br />The operator noted in the 2003 report that a number of monitoring wells were damaged and <br />rendered inoperable during the year, or abandoned for other reasons. The report contained <br />commitments to drill necessary replacement, wells in 2004. As a part of the current <br />midterm permit review, the Division has requested that the permit be updated to address <br />plans for the replacement wells. <br />We have only one request regarding the 2003 AHR. There was no narrative comparison of <br />TDS projection vs. observed for Surface Water Site WSH7, on upper Hubberson Gulch. <br />Alluvial valley floor pastures on Hubberson Gulch are irrigated with the water monitored at <br />this site, and evaluation should be documented in the annual report. Please amend the <br />2003 AHR narrative to address projected and observed average irrigation season TDS <br />values for Site WSH7. <br />In addition, we include the following reminder for the 2004 AHR: <br />The 2003 AHR continues to base TDS impact comparisons in the report narrative on pre- <br />Permit Revision 3 (PR-3) TDS projections. This is appropriate, since mine plan changes <br />were not implemented until the final quarter of the water year covered in the AHR. The <br />2004 AHR report narrative should be updated to reflect the PHC projections as revised by <br />PR-3. <br />Please contact me 'f you have any questions. <br />Sincerely, <br />Daniel T. Mathe <br />Environmental Protection pecialist <br />C: Denver File <br />Office of Office of Colorado <br />