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Schwartzwalder Update <br />M-1977-300 <br />April 22, 2010 <br />DRMS Status of Schwartzwalder Review <br />• April 19 -- DRMS received updated Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) from Cotter. Division <br />staff have begun the review of this plan and a response from the DRMS will take a couple of <br />weeks. This plan must address mitigation of the toxic-forming materials in the underground mine <br />pool and the alluvium. The EPP should also specify additional monitoring points that must be <br />added to the existing plan. A meeting with Cotter to review the plan and develop an action plan <br />for implementation of the EPP will be scheduled as soon as the DRMS review is complete. <br />• Because the level of the mine pool appears to be moving toward stabilization, and the level of the <br />mine pool is in the process of re-equilibrating with the regional water table, we need to gather <br />more data and information. Mitigation plan details are pending the outcome of this evaluation. <br />• Emergency conditions do not exist at this time and on-going management is needed to prevent a <br />future emergency. <br />• There is no immediate threat to humans and wildlife since the mine pool is inaccessible through <br />bulkheading of the main adits. Cotter and their consultant, Whetstone Associates, are doing <br />monitoring, as required quarterly under the CDPHE discharge permit and the RML. DBMS checks <br />for any anomalies and confers with CDPHE as needed. <br />• DRMS plans to continue further water quality sampling and field investigations and has <br />recommended sites where Cotter should add monitoring points. Further data and field <br />investigations will determine what actions Cotter must undertake for environmental protection or <br />a plan in case an emergency response becomes necessary. <br />Current Monitoring /Field Investigations /Interagency Coordination <br />DBMS staff will conduct a water quality sampling project the week of May 3rd. The purpose of this <br />sampling effort will be to verify reported data and collect samples in locations that are not being sampled <br />presently. Meetings and conversations with CDPHE staff have occurred at various intervals over the past <br />2-3 years concerning both the discharge permit and the RML. <br />Other Licenses <br />1) CDPHE Radioactive Materials License RML-369-03 still active. Cotter still needs to remove some <br />contaminated soil from the property before license can be terminated. <br />2) CDPHE Discharge Permit CO-0001-244 issued for the mine water treatment plant. Mine dewatering <br />effluent required treatment for removal of uranium and radium prior to discharge to Ralston Creek, to a <br />discharge concentration limit of 0.766 mg/L for uranium and 3 pCi/L for radium. The facility has not <br />discharged since June 2002. <br />3) CDPHE air quality permits: Two are still active. <br />lk,j Xe l ' ?.?/ - MtA A-t c t &+/o?461 W&?C? <br />)Ve 'D I 12-qJ (v