2010-07-26_HYDROLOGY - C1981008

• Permit No: C1981008
• IBM Index Class Name: Hydrology
• Doc Date: 7/26/2010
• Doc Name: Discharge Permit and SWMP Update
• From: DRMS
• To: Western Fuels Colorado
• Permit Index Doc Type: Correspondence
• 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]
26 July 2010
Ross Gubka, P.E.
Western Fuels — Colorado
P.O. Box 628
Nucla, CO 81424
Re: Suggested Updates of Discharge Permit and SWMP
Dear Mr. Gubka:
COLORADO
D 1 V IS ION OF
RECLAMATION
MINING
SAFETY
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
James B. Martin
Executive Director
Loretta E. Pifieda
Director
During my June inspection of the New Horizon Mine, I believe you indicated that the pit dewatering
operation, which was transferred from Pond 007 to Pond 011 in 2008, would be subsequently transferred
from Pond 011 to Pond 013 later this year. I reviewed the mine's discharge permit today, to ensure that
the proposed shift would be in compliance with the permit. It appears that the most recent application to
the CDPHE to renew Permit No. CO- 0000213 was submitted by WFC in August 2006. At the time,
Ponds 011 and 013 had not yet been constructed, and pit water was being directed to Pond 007. This
resulted in Pond 007 having a near- continuous discharge, which was reflected by the permit requirement
for quarterly WET monitoring of Pond 007 for Chronic lethality. All other ponds, because of their
sporadic discharges, appear to require only semi - annual monitoring for Acute lethality. The current
version of the discharge permit (found in Attachment 2.05.3(3) -18) was amended with an effective date
of December 1, 2007 and will expire March 31, 2012. This version was incorporated into the DRMS
permit with MR -74 in August 2008.
Has WFC applied with the CDPHE WQCD to amend the discharge permit to reflect current and
proposed modifications to the pit dewatering operation? It would seem logical that the quarterly
monitoring for Chronic lethality would apply to whatever pond is the recipient of pit water (thereby
having a near- continuous discharge), with Acute lethality being evaluated for all other (sporadic)
discharges. Please review Discharge Permit CO- 0000213 to evaluate its applicability to the current and
proposed operations at the New Horizon Mine. If the permit does not yet reflect the current operation,
nor the changes proposed with PR -06, the Division suggests that Western Fuels submit an application to
the WQCD to amend the discharge permit. We also offer an additional reminder: the Storm Water
Management Plan will need to be updated to reflect the sediment pond and topography changes
proposed with PR -06.
Sincerely,
Marcia L. Talvitie, P.E.
Environmental Protection Specialist
cc: Sandy Brown, DRMS
Office of Office of
Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines