REP20793

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: Report
• Doc Date: 1/21/1997
• Doc Name: PHONE CALL LOG FOR BYPASS UPSET REPORTING
• Permit Index Doc Type: MINE INFLOW REPORTS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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Phone Call Log for Bypass/Upset Reporting
Water Quality Control Division
Permits and Enforcement Section
TUE 17:40 FAS 303 7820390 CDPHE/WACD ^_ _ _ _ _ __ _
- III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Entity: Mountain Coal Company -West Elk Mine
Permit No.: CO-0038776 Person Reporting: Henry Barbs, Christine
Johnston, and Paige Bevel
County: Gunnison Phone No.: [phone]
Recorded by: Kathleen Sullivan
Date: January 21, 1997
Start Date of Potential Upset: Mon., 20 Jan. 97 Bypass/Upset Duration: Not yet known.
Date 8 Time of Report: 21 Jan. 97, 9:00 a.m., Has this happened before: Yes, in a
via conference call different location of the mine
Probable Cause: At about 10:30 p.m. on Monday, January 20, 1997, more than 8,000 gpm of
water upsurged from the mine floor following taking a <10 foot cut through a fault area in the first
Southeast headgate off the Box Canyon Mains. This is a different system than caused the
March 1996 effluent violations. Equipment was lost as the water Flooded the mine.
Written Report to Follow: Yes
Actions: All remaining equipment has been backed out of the Box Canyon Mains. MCC is
trying to emplace three "seals" to contain the water.
tfp~ t,~,~i(~C4,~7ttKihe~ Blind, and to pump 3,500
gpm to the surface. MCC is setting pumps so they can increase pumping capacity to
minimize flooding of the east side of the mine.
Surface storage capacity is reduced by ice accumulation in the ponds. MB-1 (Outfall 002)
has about 15 acre feet available, which will offer an estimated 24-hour holding time prior to
discharge. Still, TSS violations are expected at 001 because the high flows will suspend clay
material from the mine floor. MCC is reserving MB-2R for potential stoimwater
runoff/snowmelt.
MCC will sample the North Fork of the Gunnison River, up and downstream of their
discharge, twice per day during these unusually high mine water flow conditions to monitor
water quality impact of the discharge.
MCC will report the situation status to the W~CD daily. In the past, high inflows from faults
lasted 3-7 days.
The water supply intake for Somerset is downstream of West Elk Mine. MCC will make the
necessary notifications. MCC will also notify CDMG of the situation.
~ 002
co- Dwain Watson, District Engineer, Fiold Support Section
David Berry/Mike Boulay, DMG
Original to MSS File