2009-08-24_REPORT - C1982056

• Permit No: C1982056
• IBM Index Class Name: REPORT
• Doc Date: 8/24/2009
• Doc Name: 2007 AHR Review Letter
• From: DRMS
• To: Oxbow Mining, LLC
• Annual Report Year: 2007
• Permit Index Doc Type: Hydrology Report
• Email Name: JJD
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
August 24, 2009
James A. Kiger
Environmental Manager
Oxbow Mining, LLC
P.O. Box 535
Somerset, Colorado 81434
RE: Elk Creek Mine, Permit No. C-1981-022, Oxbow Mining LLC
2007 Annual Hydrology Report, Adequacy Review Status
Dear Mr. Kiger:
COLORADO
DIVISION OF
RECLAMATION
MINING
SAFETY
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
Harris D. Sherman
Executive Director
Ronald W. Cattany
Division Director
Natural Resource Trustee
The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division) has finished its review of Oxbow
Mining's response letter dated April 27, 2009 for the 2007 Annual Hydrology Report. Oxbow Mining's letter
was in response to the Division's initial adequacy review letter dated March 9, 2009. Most of the issues brought
forward in the 2007 AHR review were resolved in the 2008 AHR, rather than updating the 2007 AHR. The
following is the status of the Division's review of the 2007 AHR. All issues have been resolved.
Hydrologic Monitoring Parameters
Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR) appears as a surface water monitoring parameter on page 4 of the 2007
AHR but does not appear on permit application page 2.04-41 as a required sampling parameter. SAR
has not been sampled since 2002 at the surface water monitoring sites. For clarification, please revise
page 4 of the 2007 and future AHRs to either delete the SAR entryfrom the Hydrologic Monitoring
Parameter list or show that SAR is no longer a required sampling parameter.
The Division has no further concerns. The revised parameter list appears on page 4 of the 2008 AHR.
2. In the note at the bottom of page 4 of the 2007 AHR, it is stated that there are three North Fork of the
Gunnison sites for August sampling. Please revise this note in the 2007 and future AHRs to show there
are only two such monitoring sites, NF-1 and NF-3.
The Division has no further concerns. Page 4 was revised appropriately in the 2008 AHR.
3. Visual observations of oil and grease are required surface water field measurements, as stated on
permit application page 2.04-41. However, the 2007 AHR does not show the entry on page 4 nor do
such observations appear in the data. Please revise page 4 in the 2007 and future AHRs appropriately
and include the oil and grease observations on the data sheets.
The Division has no further concerns. The table on page 4 of the 2008 was revised accordingly. In
addition, observations on the presence of oil and grease are contained in the 2008 AHR.
4. The note at the bottom of permit application page 2.04-41 states that dissolved oxygen will be
monitored only for streams. However, the note at the bottom of page 4 of the 2007 AHR states that
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