PURPOSE OF PUBLIC NOTICE
The purpose of this public notice is to declare the state of Utah’s intention to renew a Utah Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (UDPES) Permit under authority of the Utah Water Quality Act, Section 19-5-104 and 107, Utah Code Annotated 1953, as amended. Said “permit” refers to UPDES Permit and the Fact Sheet and Statement of Basis (including the total maximum daily loads (TMDL’s)) if applicable, as per Section 303 (d) of the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA).
PERMIT INFORMATION
PERMITTEE NAME: PacifiCorp Interwest Mining Company-Cottonwood/Wilberg Mine
MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 310, 15 North Main Street, Huntington, UT 84528
TELEPHONE NUMBER: 435-687-4712
FACILITY LOCATION: ~10 miles northwest of Orangeville, Utah
UPDES PERMIT NO.: UT0022896
PERMITTED OUTFALL: 001
RECEIVING WATERS: Cottonwood Creek
BACKGROUND
The Interwest Mining Company (a subsidiary of PacifiCorp) Cottonwood/Wilberg Mine (mine) is a former underground coal mine, which ceased operations in 2001, with standard industrial classification code 1222 for bituminous coal underground mining. The mine portals have since been sealed and there has been no mining activity since that time other than reclamation of the former mining areas. There is one remaining active discharge point as a result of a continuous low-flow discharge of groundwater (Outfall 001) located in Emery County, Utah at latitude 3919’03” and longitude 11111’22”. All of the other discharge points have been previously removed from service upon final reclamation. This renewal permit will once again authorize the discharge of groundwater at Outfall 001 during the next five years.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Public comments are invited any time prior to the deadline of the close of business on April 4, 2019. Written public comments can be submitted to: Jeff Studenka, UPDES Surface Water Section, Utah Division of Water Quality, PO Box 144870, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4870 or by email at: jstudenka@utah.gov. After considering public comment the Director may execute the permit issuance, revise it or abandon it. The permit is available for public review at https://deq.utah.gov/public-notices-archive/water-quality-public-notices. If internet access is not available, a copy may be obtained by calling Jeff Studenka at 801-536-4395.
Published in ETV News March 6, 2019.