2013-04-11_HYDROLOGY - C1981012 ‎(2)‎

• Permit No: C1981012
• IBM Index Class Name: Hydrology
• Doc Date: 4/11/2013
• Doc Name: 1st Quarter 2013 Pond Inspection Report Letter ‎(Emailed)‎
• From: DRMS
• To: Ron Thompson
• Permit Index Doc Type: Sediment Pond Inspections
• Email Name: LDS
• Email Name: DIH
• 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]
April 11, 2013
Ron Thompson
New Elk Coal Company, LLC
12250 Highway 12
Weston, CO 80182
Re: New Elk Mine (Permit No. C- 1981 -012)
2013, QI, Sediment Pond Inspection Reports
Dear Mr. Thompson,
COLORADO
D I V I S I ON OF
RECLAMATION
MINING
SAFETY
John W. Hickenlooper
Governor
Mike King
Executive Director
Loretta E. Pineda
Director
The Division received New Elk Coal Company's 2013 First Quarter Sediment Pond Inspection Reports
on April 5, 2013. The reports state that:
• Pond numbers 001, 004, 007, 008, 006;
West Portal containments 1 and 2; and
0 RDA containments North and SE (which are numbered 5 and 3 respectively on map 13)
were inspected on March 29, 2013, which is acceptable and occurred within the first quarter of 2013.
Pond 001 receives and stores pumped mine water. Tt is lined with HDPE. No problems were observed
with vegetation, erosion, stability or storage capacity. The pond was receiving water pumped from the
Allen Mine at —500 GPM, and was discharging through the primary spillway. No discharge was
observed in January or February. Analysis of a sample of the discharge in March was apparently
compliant. Further comment can wait until a copy of the discharge monitoring report is received by the
Division.
Pond 004 treats run -off from the Development Waste Pile. No problems are reported with respect to
vegetation, erosion, stability or storage capacity. No inflow to the pond was observed during the quarter.
Pond 007 treats run -off from the majority of the active facilities area. No problems are reported with
respect to vegetation, erosion, stability or storage capacity. The valve on the primary spillway was
opened for —3 '/2 days at the end of March, which allowed a discharge of —50 GPM through the v -notch
weir. Again, further comment can wait until a copy of the discharge monitoring report is received by the
Division. No mention was made of the planned de- watering and sediment removal discussed in the
report from Q4, 2012.
Pond 008 treats run -off from the RDA and is subject to regulation by MSHA. The vegetative cover is
described as excellent and no problems are reported with regard to erosion, stability or storage capacity.
No inflow was observed in the quarter.
Pond 006 is designed as a closed loop with the preparation plant. The report states that it is currently out
of service and has been drained and cleaned in readiness for lining.
Office of Office of
Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines