2008-12-31_REPORT - C1992080 (2)

Home Browse Search

OAKRIDGE ENERGY, INC. CARBON JUNCTION MINE (C-1992-080) ANNUAL HYDROLOGIC REPORT WATER YEAR 2008 The Oakridge Energy, Inc. Carbon Junction Mine (CDMG Permit No. C-1992-080) is located approximately 2.5 miles southeast of Durango, Colorado. The mine is located on Ewing Mesa near the junction of Highways 160 and 550. The mine site is located in the upper drainage basin of Carbon Junction Canyon. Carbon Junction Canyon is an intermittent tributary of the Animas River. Much of the Carbon Junction Canyon drainage has a steep grade with a total drainage basin of 0.8 square miles. Hydrologic sampling and data collection was conducted at the Carbon Junction Mine betwen 1982 and 2006. The mine site was originally permitted by the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (CDRMS), formerly the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division, in 1983 and re-permitted in 1993. Coal mining activity was initiated on the site on a minor scale. The extent of coal mining activities at the Carbon Junction Mine included opening both the North and South pits. Ancillary activity included construction of a permanently reclaimed spoils area, sediment control structures, topsoil stockpiles, and a pad for equipment. Permanent reclamation at the mine site was initiated in 1998 and completed in August 2006, with the only outstanding reclamation being the two sediment ponds and topsoil piles. After approval of Technical Revision 15 and Minor Revision 06 (demonstrating achievement of natural sediment generation levels on the reclamation) by CDRMS, reclamation of the sediment ponds and sediment control system commenced, with backfilling and topsoiling completed in December 2008. During discussions concerning Technical Revision 13 during 2005 and 2006, Oakridge energy and CDRMS agreed to terminate groundwater (well) and surface water (spring and seep) monitoring at the mine site, effective in 2006. It was concluded that the limited mining activities at the mine did not negatively impact the hydrologic balance over the course of the operation. The remaining hydrologic monitoring at the mine includes discharge monitoring (required for the CDPS permit) and quarterly sediment pond inspections. This report includes the sediment pond inspection reports and discharge monitoring reports for the 2008 water year (October 2007 through September 2008). SEDIMENT POND INSPECTIONS AND DISCHARGES The Carbon Junction Mine has two sediment ponds, 001 and 002. Michael Savage of Savage and Savage, Inc. prepared inspection reports for both sediment ponds during the first (November 28, 2007), second (March 24, 2008), third (May 6, 2008) and fourth (July Carbon Junction Mine Page 1 Annual Hydrologic Report for Water Year 2008