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iii iiiiiiiiniu iii STATE OF COLOI~vv9 Roy Romer, Go•+ei DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES MINED LAND RECLAMATION DIVISION DAVID C. SHELTON, Director DATE: June 19, 1987 T0: Gregg Squire FROM: Jim Stevens ;.L~ RE: EAGLE N0. 5 MINE (PERMIT N0. C-044-81) 1986 ANNUAL FIYDROLOGIC REPORT The format of the report is quite good: Much of the 1986 monitoring data is included, and the operator's interpretations of the data are generally acceptable. There are, however, some areas of concern on my part. The data sheets containing the actual results of the monitoring, i. e., water levels, field parameters, chemical analyses for the year for the individual sites by date collected, have been deleted from the 1986 report. Only the field data selected for presentation in the form of figures c:an be readily tied to any one monitoring site at any particular time of the year. The analytical data presented is impossible to correlate in that it is only found in tables showing mean, maximum, minimum, etc:, values both 1'or 1986 and for all monitoring years. While such groupings are useful, it is not possible with the information contained in the AHR to verify statemeni:s such as made on page 2 that the bedrock aquifer field conductivities show slight downward trend over time but corresponding TDS values do not: The Division,.therefore, should require that the basic data by date collected be made available. It is acceptable if such data is provided by Empire Energy under separate cover as most recently done, so long as this is done annually in conjunction with the AHR. A written commitment on Empire Energy's part to annually provide this data update should be requested. The volume of water discharged from the mine continues to be a question. The instantaneous flow readings made weekly at the settling ponds are not the best representations of the volume of mine water involved. Flow meter readings from the sump pumps in the mine were available for only November and December of 1986, and had not been available for over a year previously. A dependable and accurate system of recording the volume of mine water discharged is called for. A commitment by Empire Energy to secure such a system should be requested. There are several questions arising from the report for which the operator might offer some explanation or interpretation. Why was the flow meter for the No. 5 mine operational only in November and December 1986? Why is the No. 1 strip pit discharge declining? 423 Centennial Building, 1313 Sherman Street Denver, Colorado 80203-2273 Tel. (303) 866-3567