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NPDES Effluent Criteria (Permit No. CO- 0000221). One excursion of NPDES <br />limits occurred this year. At Outfall 016, the total recoverable iron <br />(TR Fe) value was fort the April 30th sample 3.61 mg /1. This sample was <br />collected as part of our selenium Sampling and Analysis Plan, which <br />included TR Fe as part of the parameter list we committed to. The sample <br />collected on April 18th at this outfall had a TR Fe value of 0.07 mg /1. <br />We collected this sample for NPDES compliance on that date, as we were <br />unsure (due to weather conditions) as to when we were going to be able <br />to do our selenium program monitoring. The monthly average TR Fe limit <br />in the NPDES permit is 1 mg /l as a monthly average. There is no daily <br />maximum limit. The monthly average for April is 1.84 mg /1, which is <br />above the limit. However, in December 2010, Peabody Energy was <br />successful in getting an ambient -based seasonal standard for TR Fe (Reg. <br />33 for the Yampa River, Section 33.47, Segment 13d, Dry Creek) . That <br />seasonal standard is 3.04 mg /l for the months of March and April. This <br />standard is not in the current NPDES permit, as it is currently under <br />administrative extension. The facility and outfall are being properly <br />operated and maintained. This possible exceedance occurred as a result <br />of spring snowmelt and runoff. In addition, we did get about 2 inches <br />(melted water equivalent) of late, heavy snow in April prior to the <br />sampling event. Therefore, we consider this to be an upset condition. <br />The high iron value for NPDESI7 reported on Table 13 was not a NPDES <br />excursion. As with NPDES 16 ( Outfall 016) discussed previously, two <br />samples were collected at NPDESI7 in April; 0.17 mg /l on the 18th and <br />1.50 mg /l on the 30th. The monthly average for April is 0.835 mg /1, <br />which is below the 30 day average limit of 1.0 mg /l (1000 ug /1). <br />Surface Water Summary. Flow values from 006, 015, and 017 were below <br />average this year due to low snowpack runoff. The average flow value <br />from 016 was above was above average, and the average flow value for 005 <br />was equal to the average. NPDES Site 009 did not flow at all. TDS values <br />at all NPDES Ponds (except 015 and 016) are increasing, as are TDS <br />values at downstream surface water Sites WSH7, WSHF1, WSDS, WSSF3 and <br />all Spoil Springs, with the exception of Spoil Spring 5. The TDS trend <br />is decreasing at NPDES Ponds 015 and 016. The TDS trend is stable at <br />22 <br />