Laserfiche WebLink
Phone Call Log for BypasslUpset Reporting '~~ <br />Water Quality Control Division ~~ 2 4 1996 Y <br />Permits and Enforcement Section <br />nivision of <br />Entity: Mountain Coal Company- West Elk Mine <br />Permit No.: CO-0038776 Person Reporting: Henry Barbe, Christine <br />Johnston, and Paige Bevel <br />County: Gunnison Phone No.: (970)929-2238 <br />Start Date of Potential Upset: ,Mon., 20 Jan. 97 BypasslUpset Duration: Not yet known. <br />Date & Time of Report: 21 Jan. 97, 9:00 a.m., Has this happened before: Yes, in a <br />via conference call different location of the mine <br />Probable Cause: At about 10`.30 p.m. on Monday, January 20, 1997, more than 8,000 gprTt of <br />water upsurged from the mine floor following taking a <10 foot cut through a fault area in the first <br />Southeast headgate off the Box Canyon Mains. This is a different system than caused the <br />March 1996 effluent violations. Equipment was lost as the water flooded the mine. <br />Written Report to Follow: Yes <br />Actions: All remaining equipment has been backed out of the Box Canyon Mains. MCC is <br />trying to emplace three "seals" to contain the water. <br />M nd to pump 3,500 <br />gpm to the surface. MCC is setting pumps so they can increase pumping capacity to <br />minimize flooding of the east side of the mine. <br />Surface storage capacity is reduced by ice accumulation in the ponds. MB-1 (Outfall 002) <br />has about 15 acre feet available, which will offer an estimated 24-hour holding time prior to <br />discharge. Still, TSS violations are expected at 001 because the high flows will suspend clay <br />material from the mine floor. MCC is reserving MB-2R for potential stormwater <br />runofflsnowmelt. <br />MCC will sample the North Fork of the Gunnison River, up and downstream of their <br />discharge, twice per day during these unusually high mine water flow conditions to monitor <br />water quality impact of the discharge. <br />MCC will report the situation status to the WOCD daily. In the past, high inflows from faults <br />lasted 3-7 days. <br />The water supply intake for Somerset is downstream of West Elk Mine. MCC will make the <br />necessary notifications. MCC will also notify CDMG of the situation. <br />/' <br />Recorded by: Kathleen Sullivan <br />Date: January 21, 1997 <br />cc- Dwain Watson, District Engineer, Field Support Section <br />David BerrylMike Boulay, DMG <br />Original to MS3 File <br />