ENFORCE36066

• Permit No: C1981019
• IBM Index Class Name: Enforcement
• Doc Date: 4/18/1996
• Doc Name: MEMO COMMENTS REGARDING NOV C-96-005
• From: DMG
• To: FILE NOV C-96-005 COLOWYO COAL MINE C-81-019
• Violation No.: CV1996005
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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STATE OF liii iii~iiiiiiiu~ii
999
COLORADO
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Depanmenf of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman SL, Rnom 215

Denver, Colorado 80103 ~I~~~~
Phone: [phone]
FAX. [phone]?-8106
llEPARTMENT OF

/ NATURAL
RESOURCES

DATE:
April 18, 1996 Rov Romer
cnvemor
' lames 5. Loc hhead
TO: NOV File C-96-005 E~ecWive Direcmr

Colowyo Coal Mine (C-81-019) Michael B Long
Division DireUOr
FROM: Erica Crosby ~(~~
RE: Comments regarding NOY C-96-003
A partial inspection was conducted at the Colowyo Coal Mine on March 19 and 20, 1996.
NOV C-96-005 was issued as a result of this inspection for;
Failure to minimize disturbance to the hydrologic balance, failure to operate and
maintain Gulch A Pond to contain or treat runoff so it complies with all Federal and
State Laws, Failure to contain or treat the runoff entering Gulch A Pond to effect
compliance with Rule 4.05.2(7), Failure to pass surface drainage from the disturbed
area through a sediment pond and Failure to maintain the East Side Collection
Ditch.
On March 6, 1996, the Division received a phone log from the Water Quality Control
Division which reported 580 ml/1 settleable solids from outfall 004 (Gulch A Pond). The
discharge was precipitation induced, but not greater than the 10-year, 24-hour storm event.
It was also noted in the analysis that TSS measured 14,900 mg/1 and iron measured 249
mg/].
During the inspection, the operator was questioned regarding the discharge sample collected
from the Gulch A Pond. According to the operator, on February 20, 1996 the water level
in the pond was noted 1" below the top of the riser (primary spillway). On February 21,
1996 water was observed discharging through the primary riser. The dewatering gate,
located at the bottom of the pond, was opened because they felt "the integrity of the pond
was in question." At the time the dewatering gate was opened, Jim Kiger grabbed a water
sample in his hands to determine if settable solids would be eminent. On February 22, 1996
a discharge sample was collected. On February 29, 1996 the dewatering gate was closed,
and there was nearly no water left in the sediment pond.