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.- <br />. p„~ ~t~r,,,F United States Department of the Interior <br />a~ "r-'-= = BUREAU OF RECLAMATION <br />n <br />;; Upper Colorado Region <br />- Western Colorado Area Office <br />A<X J. <br />~ 5 Nov 2uua <br />2764 Compass Drive, Suite 106 635E 2"' Avenue, Suite 300 <br />Grand Junction CO 81506-8785 Durango CO 61301-5475 <br />WCG-ASchroeder <br />LND-6.00 <br />PRJ-15.00 <br />RECEI~'E® <br />Mr. Joe Dudash N~V A ~ 2~py <br />Division of Minerals and Geology Division of wSiners!s a,~~ cmn~cr,y <br />Dept of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />Subject: Concerns with the Bowie #2 Coal Mine Discharges (Discharge Permit # <br />CO-0044776) and Their Potential Effect on the Fire Mountain Canal, <br />Paonia Project, CO <br />Dear Mr. Dudash, <br />The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is very concerned with how the planned and <br />actual mine and stormwater discharges from the Bowie #2 Mine, Permit No. C-96-083, <br />(Mine) will affect the Fire Mountain Canal (Canal) and its water quality. The Fire <br />Mountain Canal is a federal facility that is a part of Reclamation's Paonia Project. The <br />Canal is operated and maintained by the Fire Mountain Canal and Reservoir Company <br />(FMCRC) under contract with Reclamation. <br />Reclamation's Upper Colorado Regional Policy (copy enclosed) is not to accept storm <br />water into our delivery facilities. The acceptance of the Mine's discharges could cause <br />Reclamation to lose its exception under the Clean Water Act and may cause serious water <br />quality concerns or overload the facilities beyond their designed capacity. Currently, <br />Reclamation may only grant the discharge of storm water into its drainage facilities, but <br />only to established local governmental entities (not to individuals, developers, or <br />companies). <br />The following items identify our concerns and provide possible recommendations to <br />resolve those concerns: <br />