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~ III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ~:. ,~ ~~ ~ ~ 4~ White River Nahcolite Minerals July 10, 1997 Ms. Kathryn Dolan Permits and Enforcement Section Water Quality Control Division, WQCD-PE-B2 Colorado Department of Health 4300 Cherry Creek Dr. So. Denver CO 80222-130 aE~~~°~ ~ (E~ JUG ~'~ 1911 1991 .,,~IO~yGeology 9ivisien'b~ (r~IfSN~d" Y Re: Sand and Gravel General Permit #COG-500751-Report of Unauthorized Discharge of July 10, 1997 Dear Ms. Dolan: Per our phone conversation today, White River Nahcolite Minerals hereby makes notification that an unauthorized discharge was noticed at 9:00 AM today. A rig was drilling a new production well and the mud pit leaked drilling fuild or re- cirrulated aquifer water into an un-named gulch near our mining operation. The drilling operation is physically separate from the process plant which is covered by a storm water permit: and control structures. The leakage of drilling fuilds originated in NE 1/4 of Sec. 35, R98W, T1S of Rio Blanco County. The quantity of water is estimated at thirty-five thousand gallons and the average conductivity was 3,000 mmhos/cm. A grab sample when the leak was discovered indicated a conductivity of 7,800 mmhos/cm. The leak was plugged and operator was instucted to monitor closely to ensure there is no further leakage. No clean up of the dry gulch (approximately 1 1/2 miles) is anticipated at this level of conductivity and TDS. However the spill area will be monitored for follow up action if necessary. If there are any questions please call me. Sincerely, ~~ Ed Baker, REM Environmental/Safety Coor~'inator cc~ BLM Colorado DMG bc: B. Warneke, S. Schram, File, L. Trowsdale Whlta Rlvar Nahcolite Minerals, Limited Liability Company P. O. Drawer 72, 3200 Co. Rd. 31, Rille. CO 81650 (tel) 303-8763674 (tax) 303-8785666