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finds that's: (1) There is no immediate potential for economic impact; (2) future economic <br /> impact, if nitrification becomes necessary, will be spread among a substantial population base <br /> thereby minimizing per capita burden; (3) several interim options are available to the City to <br /> postpone and reduce the probability of economic impact as detailed in the East River Va11ey <br /> Wastewater Facilities Plan prepared by Camp, Dresser& McKee which was submitted to the <br /> Commission as additional information; and (4 as evidenced by the plan, the City is planning and <br /> preparing for a twenty-year program to include nitrification facilities and is aware of the <br /> economic requirements to support the plan. <br /> The Crested Butte Water and Sanitation District will most likely need ammonia removal as they <br /> approach the maximum population in their masterplan. As estimated for 1982 in the facilities <br /> plan, nitrification facilities will cost 1.168 million dollars. The Commission has determined this <br /> cost to be economically reasonable for many of the same reasons as for the Town of Crested <br /> Butte. The District and the Town ill most likely share in the costs of the facilities and thus there <br /> will be a large population base to support ammonia removal costs. Finally,the District's <br /> economic base is largely derived from the tourism and recreation industry of which the value is <br /> strongly related to the quality of the fisheries in the region. <br /> The Town of Delta is recognized as facing a potential requirement for nitrification facilities but <br /> several mitigating factors lead the Commission to conclude that this potential was negligible. <br /> The Town offered testimony indicating that they felt there would be no foreseeable impact and <br /> they are in the process of converting to a rotating biological disc (RBD) system which will lower <br /> the ammonia in their effluent. The Commission noted that Delta's discharge into the Gunnison <br /> River is at a point of high volume (Q710=210 CFS) and a wide channel which, in addition to a <br /> high dilution factor, leaves room for options such as mixing zones. Coupled with these factors, <br /> the Commission believes that provisions contained in the Colorado Water Quality Control Act as <br /> relating to advanced wastewater treatment requirements adequately protect the Town from any <br /> remaining potential for economic impact through the provisions of Section 204(3), C.R.S. 1973. <br /> In the case of the Gunnison Water and Sanitation District, the District supports a class 1 cold <br /> water designation recognizing that there could be some economic impact. The District is <br /> strongly supported by the economic base of tourism and recreation of which excellent fisheries is <br /> important. Because of the District's support of the classification and thus their implicit <br /> willingness to accept the economic impact that could result, the Commission is compelled to <br /> conclude that the potential for economic impact bears a reasonable relationship to the benefits to <br /> be derived from the ammonia standard. <br /> In summary,the public participation and careful deliberation have resulted in regulations that <br /> will protect the quality of the waters of the Gunnison River Basin through classifications and <br /> standards that are economically reasonable in terms of the costs to the municipalities lying with <br /> the region. <br /> It must be noted that before advanced treatment can be required and the costs discussed herein <br /> incurred, a hearing is available pursuant to section 204(3), C.R.S. 1973. <br /> FISCAL IMPACT: PRIVATE SECTION <br /> Six private sector entities were identified concerning potential economic impacts as a result of <br /> the proposed standards in this basin: Homestake Mining Company, Blue Ribbon Coal Company, <br /> ARCO,the Idarado Mine, Union Carbide, and AMAX. All of these entities have been, are, or <br /> will be involved in mining and milling activities with the region. <br /> The Homestake concern was with uranium limits. They indicated that they would be forced into <br /> a zero discharge situation if the standard for Indian Creek remained as proposed. This posed the <br /> potential of shutting down their operation entirely with the resultant loss of jobs and economic <br /> 21 <br />