_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981017 ‎(205)‎

• Permit No: C1981017
• IBM Index Class Name: GENERAL DOCUMENTS
• Doc Name: Bid Documents ‎(IMP)‎
• Permit Index Doc Type: General Correspondence
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

RECEIVED,
G
COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Water Quality Control Division
MAR 2 0 199'
MEMORANDUM Mined Land
Reclamation Divisior
TO: Fred Banta, M M
FROM: Anne Ihlenfeldt through Pat Nelson
SUBJECT: Mid-Continent permit status
CO-0000396
Pitkin County
DATE: March 13, 1991
Mid-Continent's current discharge permit was issued on January- 7, 1989 and
expires December 31, 1993. It provides for the discharge of treated mine
water and untreated storm water into Coal Creek, a tributary of the Crystal
River. The permit is currently being amended with regard to the proposed new
water treatment plant and will go to public notice in May.
Currently, this permit has two unresolved Notices of Violation (NOVs) . The
first involves mine discharge high in TSS because of an upset at the settling
pond that occurred during February 1989. Mid-Continent and the WQCD went
before a hearing officer on the matter and Mid-Continent was found to have 29
days of violation of the Water Quality Act. Mid-Continent referred this
matter to appellate court for appeal. The second NOV involves a broken drag
line in June 1989. Mid-Continent has requested a hearing on this matter.
Discharge from the mine has been indicating toxicity. This is not a violation
of the permit as long as Mid-Continent continues to investigate the cause of
toxicity- and make an effort to correct it. In general, Mid-Continent has been
in compliance with their permit since the last NOV was issued.
Mid-Continent will be required to submit an application for a storm water
permit by November 18, 19911. The permit will probably not set effluent
limitations for storm water but will instead have Best Management Practices
for handling the discharge.
It is possible to simply transfer permits to a new owner should Mid-Continent
sell the mine. However, a transfer of the permit requires a written agreement
of, among other things, a transfer of liabilities. In the case of bankruptcy,
this may give us the option to require that the new owner apply for a new
permit.