REP34477

• Permit No: C1981012
• IBM Index Class Name: Report
• Doc Date: 3/21/2003
• Doc Name: 2002 AHR Review Letter
• From: DMG
• To: Peak Project Management
• Annual Report Year: 2002
• Permit Index Doc Type: Hydrology Report
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
March 21, 2003
Ron Thompson
Peak Project Management
3800 Co. Road 63.9
Trinidad CO 81082
RE: 2002 Annual Hydrology Report Review, New Elk Mine, #C-81-012
Dear Mr. Thompson:
DIVISION OF
MINERALS
GEOLOGY
REG LAM ATION
MINING•SAFETY
Bill Owens
Governor
Greg E. Walther
Executive Director
Ronald W. Cottony
Division Director
The Division of Minerals and Geology has completed review of the 2002 Annual Hydrology Report for the
New Elk Mine, #C-81-012. Please respond to any issues as necessary within 60 days of receipt of this
letter.
General Comments
On page 10 of the report, the text refers to the period "1994 through 2001 ". In both cases, 2001
should be 2002.
2. Why do Stiff diagrams not include 2002 data?
3. Please include elevations of the measuring point for each well in future reports.
Monitoring Frequency
Monitoring frequency was met during 2002 under the approved plan following the May 2002 Notice of
Violation CV-2002-010 for the 2001 water monitoring excursions noted following review of the 2001
AHR.
Analysis of Data and Determination of Impacts
Surface Water Quantity and Quali[y
Two stations on the Purgatoire River aze monitored for flow and field parameters on a semi-annual basis,
and water quality on an annual basis. PRS-1 is located upstream of all New Elk mining activities and
PRS-4 is located downstream of all mining activities, yet upstream of the confluence of the North Fork of
the Purgatoire with the Middle Fork. For the second consecutive year salinity, as measured by total
dissolved solids (TDS) was unchanged between the two sites, PRS-1 (170 mg/1) vs. PRS-4 (170 mg/1).
The Water Quality Control Division sets the applicable receiving stream standards for Region 7, Lower
Arkansas River Basin, Segment Sa. The classifications that apply to this segment aze Aquatic Life Cold 1,
Recreation 1, Water Supply, and Agriculture. No exceedance of any physical, biological, inorganic, or
metal standard was noted in either the upstream or the downstream water sample data reported. No
identifiable impact to surface water quality or quantity is evident in the data collected and reported.