REP24345

• Permit No: C1981033
• IBM Index Class Name: Report
• Doc Date: 9/24/2004
• Doc Name: 2003 AHR Response Letter
• From: J. E. Stover & Associates
• To: DMG
• Annual Report Year: 2003
• Permit Index Doc Type: Hydrology Report
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

J. E. STOVER & ASSOCIATES
2768 COMPASS DRIVE, SUITE 101
GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO 81506
PHONE: [phone], FAX [phone]
MINE ENGINEERING
MINE RECLAMATION
September 22, 2004
RECEi\fED
,1. J. Dudash SEP Z 42004
Division of Minerals & Geology
1313 Sherman St., Room 215 ~ivisien of Minerals and Geology
Denver, CO 80203
Re: Bear Coal Company
2003 Annual Hydrology Report
_ Permit C=81: 033 _ _ _ ~ _
Dear Mr. Dudash:
CIVIL ENGINEERING
CONST. MANAGEMENT
The DMG's letter dated September 16, 2004, provided comments and concerns about Bear's 2003
Annual Hydrology Report. Following are Bear's responses to the DMG's comments and concerns:
No comment required.
2. A review of the data indicates high iron concentrations are related to high TSS
concentrations. Iron concentrations in the river are low during December because TSS
levels are typically low in December. During spring run-off, when TSS concentrations are
elevated, iron is elevated. The following table provides examples of this trend. Both TSS
and iron are measured in mg/I.
North Fork of the Gunnison River
Upstream Downstream
Date TSS Iron TSS Iron
5/28/1997 92 2.92 162 4.16
12/22/1997 0 0.06 0 0.13
6/30/1998 16 0.38 8 0.23
12/8/1998 0 0.07 0 0.08
7/12/1999 0 0.11 0 0.16
12/6/1999 6 0.06 0 0.07
6/19/2000 12 0.14 12 0.11
12/11/2000 0 0.10 0 0.08
6/18/2001 8 0.13 6 0.13
12/t 7/2001 8 0.06 5 0.06
6/17/2002 6 0.27 6 0.28
12/16/2002 6 0.12 0 0.13
6/17/2003 14 0.30 12 0.39
12/12/2003 ~ ~- 10 0.07 0 0.10
3. The correlation above shows there is no trend developing. I believe it is clear, the silt in
river contains iron. I have seen this trend at other mines as well. The follow table shows
the same trend for upstream North Thompson Creek.