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XI. Economic Reasonableness <br /> The Commission finds that these use classifications and water quality standards are economically <br /> reasonable. The Commission solicited and considered evidence of the economic impacts of <br /> these regulations. This evaluation necessarily involved a case-by-case consideration of such <br /> impacts, and reference is made to the fiscal impact statement for this analysis. Generally, a <br /> judgment was made as to whether the benefits in terms of improving water quality justified the <br /> costs of increased treatment. In the absence of evidence on economic impacts for a specific <br /> segment,the Commission concluded that the regulations impose no unreasonable economic <br /> burden. <br /> XII. Classifications and Standards-Special Cases <br /> l. Page 1, Segment 6(a), 6(b), and 6(c) <br /> (Proposed as page 1, segment 6) <br /> Segment 6(a) receives a discharge from the Roaring Judy fish hatchery. 6(a) contains the <br /> tributaries to the mainstem which are intermittent. The perennial tributaries to the mainstem are <br /> included in segment 6(b). The Commission found no evidence of water supply use associated <br /> with segment 6(b) which contains fisheries. <br /> 2. Page 2, Segments 7 and 8 <br /> Water supply was retained for both segments because segment 8 is subject to conditional water <br /> rights held by the Town of Crested Butte. The agriculture classification was retained because the <br /> use it currently in place. <br /> 3. Page 2, Segment <br /> Segment 9 represents the mainstem of the Slate River from the point immediately above its <br /> confluence with Coal Creek to its confluence with the East River. The Division's initial proposal <br /> was based on 17 samples taken during 1979 through 1981. These data were significantly <br /> influenced by heavy metals entering the Slate River from Coal Creek. In May of 1981 Amax <br /> commenced operation of the wastewater treatment facility treating discharges to Coal Creek, a <br /> tributary of the Slate River. By July, 1981 steady state operation had been achieved. In view of <br /> the significant change in ambient water quality resulting from the operation of the wastewater <br /> treatment plant,the Commission adopted the Division's suggestion that the record on this <br /> segment be kept open to receive more meaningful data. The water quality standards adopted by <br /> the Commission are based on combined Amax and Storet data during the period of record July, <br /> 1981 through June, 1982. The water quality standards adopted for this segment are table values <br /> from the 0-100 hardness/alkalinity column, with the exception of cadmium, copper, lead and <br /> zinc. The standards for these parameters were based on x+ s values derived from the combined <br /> Amex and Storet data for the twelve month period of record. The Storet data was in terms of <br /> total recoverable while Amax data was in terms of total metals. The cadmium level of 0.03 mg/1 <br /> taken on November 12, 1981 was discarded as an outlier. All Amax data used had total <br /> suspended solids of less than 30 milligrams per liter. The monitoring location for Segment 9 was <br /> at the wooden bridge on Highway 135, 0.25 miles below the Crested Butte domestic wastewater <br /> treatment plant. <br /> Adoption of an aquatic life, class 1 classification with a 0.02 mg/1 unionized ammonia standard <br /> presents the potential for economic impact upon the Town of Crested Butte. The Commission <br /> acknowledged the potential, for requirements necessitating nitrification facilities but found it <br /> justified for the following reasons: (1) There is no clear and present threat of immediate <br /> economic impact; (2) Future impact, if ammonia removal becomes necessary, will be spread <br /> among a substantial population base and thus per capita impact will be small'; (3) Several <br /> interim options are available to the district to further postpone and reduce the probability of <br /> 15 <br />