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" Letter to Kye A. Abraham an~i]{iam D. Collins <br />', February 20, 1997 Page 2 <br />Second, there have been no tailings or contaminated materials placed in the mill tailings pond. According to <br />CDMG personnel, the upper mill railings ponds and associated slurry pipeline were never constructed at the <br />Ute Ule facility, the historic tailings pond are fairly well revegetated and there have been no tailings or <br />contaminated materials placed in [his pond. According to a 1995 CDMG facility inspection report, the mill <br />has previously been in operation, with ore from the Golden Wonder Mine being processed using a flotation <br />system with mill tailings being disposed of by backstowing the tailings within worked out arras of the Ule <br />Mine. The CDMG permit allows backstowing of mill tailings io the Ule Mine; however, CDMG has <br />indicated concerns regarding assessment of possible contamination of ground water resources within the <br />vicinity. With the assumption that the mill tailings will continue to be disposed within the Ule Mine, and that <br />no mill tailings will be placed in the railings pond(s), the WQCD has determined that no individual industrial <br />dischazge permit will be required for the Ute Ule facilities. However, if mill tailings are placed in the tailings <br />pond, and if there is a possibility of discharge from the mill tailings pond to any gullies or intermittent <br />tributaries or to Ule Creek or Henson Creek, then an'individual industrial dischazge permit will be required <br />and LKA International Inc. must reapply for a discharge permit for this situation. <br />In addition to the individual industrial discharge permits for both sites, stormwater dischazge permits are <br />required for both the Ute Ule site and the Golden Wonder Mine site. With the original discharge permit <br />application that was submitted in 1994, a portion of this application was for stormwater dischazges. This <br />stormwater application was based upon a federal stormwater application. In a letter dated January S, 1996 <br />from Dan Beley of the WQCD, the Division indicated that stormwater discharge permits are required for both <br />sites, and a general stormwater permit application for mining facilities was also enclosed for your company <br />to complete and return. Since the original stormwater permit applications submitted in 1994 were incomplete, <br />the WQCD indicated in the January 8, 1996 letter that the general stormwater permit application should be <br />completed and returned to the Division by February 6, 1996. The WQCD did not receive any completed <br />stormwater discharge permit applications. Another copy of the general stormwater dischazge permit <br />application is being submitted to you at this time. Since you have stormwater dischazges at both sites and <br />have not obtained stormwater discharge permits, you will need to complete these applications and submit them <br />as soon as possible, but no later than April 1, 1997, to Dan Beley of the WQCD. If you have any questions <br />regarding completing these applications or regarding the stormwater dischazge permit requirements, contact <br />Dan Beley at (303)+692-3606. <br />In previous CDMG inspection reports, it was indicated that a stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) had been <br />submitted to the WQCD. The WQCD has not received any stormwater Management Plans for either site. <br />SWMPs will be required to be developed as part of the stormwater discharge permit. A guidance document <br />related to developing a stormwater Management Plan for mining facilities is also attached to this letter for <br />your information. <br />The attachments have been enclosed with the letter to William Collins. If you have any questions regarding <br />this letter, please contact me at (303)+692-3601; or for stormwater issues, please contact Dan Beley at <br />(303)+692-3606. <br />Sincerely, <br />tlv""` <br />Don A. Holmer <br />[ndusvial Permits Engineer, Permits and Enforcement Section <br />WATER QUALITY CONTROL DIVISION <br />ce: Marla Bibers[ine, Permits and Enforcement Section, WQCD <br />Jim DillielCarl Mount, Minerals Program, Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology <br />Steve Shuey, Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology, Durango Office: 484 Turner, BId F 101, Durango CO 81301 <br />Dan Beley, PertniLS and Enforcement Section, WQCD <br />Dwain Watson, Field Support Section, WQCD <br />Mike Reed, Environmental Pro[eclion Agency <br />Hinsdale County Health Deparmren[ <br />Pemdt Files: CO-0043877 and CO-0043915 <br />