HYDRO20765

• Permit No: M1995036
• IBM Index Class Name: Hydrology
• Doc Date: 12/31/2003
• Doc Name: Potential Impacts of Selenium in Discharges
• From: CDPHE
• To: DMG
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

JAN-05-04 15:45 FROM-Colorado Dlvlsfon of 14inarals i Geoloav [phone] T-520 P.004/007 F-326
ssS ~~a~
5TAT~E OF COLORADO
Bill Owsns, Govsmor
Douglas H. Benevento, Executive Director
Dedicated t0 protecting and improving the health and environment of the people of Colorado
4900 Cherry Creek Dr. S. laboratory Servires D'Nlslon
Denver, Colorado 80246.1530 eioo Lowry Blvd.
Phone (a03) 692-2000 Derner, Colorado 80230•fi928
TDD Line [phone] [phone]
Located In Glendale, Coloredo d ,
hapJ/www.odphestete.co.us
12~3I-03
United Companies of Mesa Cotmry
Attention: Richard Johnson, Resource Manager
P.O. Box 3609
Grand Junction, Colorado 81502 \ /
Re: Cotetuial Impacts of Selenium in Dischar'8e )s/frnm Selecoed Saud and Gravel Operations
Along the Gumrisoa and Colorado Rivers. /
Deaz Mr. Johnson:
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# 7876 ~
Colorado Department
ofPublicHealth f/
andEnvuonmeat
T~ ~ yrG ~
December 26, 2003
. ..-RECE9~~~ ~;~
JAN 2 6 2004
Oivisioo of Minerals era Ga,.;a• ;
During the February, 2003 meeting of $te Sehatitrm Task Force, the US Fish and Wildlife Sezvice verbally expressed concern
to the Water t2ualiry Control Division about a selenium concentration of greater tl>an 1D0 micrograms per liter (ug/1) in a
water sample it collected firom the dischazge of asand-and-gravel operation to the Gu~isoa River near Delta. This has
caused the Division m more closely examine the sources of selenium to the Gr>miison and Colorado Rivers, especially in
segments identified as impairedfor selenium under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, ie. the total urA~++*+++**+ daily load
(TMDJ,) program. Some of these waters also serve as habitat for tlueatened and endangered fishes. Atnbie~ selenium
concentrations in reaches of these rivets are believed to exceed the applicable water-qualify standard of q'.6 ngfi, and the
Division recently proposed to our Commission that 9 additional segments of the Gumtison'and Colorado Rivers be listed as
impaired fez selenium. Currently, the 2002 version of this list bas S segments of these rivers listed as impaired on the basis of
selenium
As part of the on-going e8'orts ro develop mfomtation for use in permitting decisions involving discharges to these impaired
waters, the Division sampled 9 of the ZS per'rrartcd, sand-and-gravel discharges to the above segments and analyzed them for
seleaitua coaceattatioa. Far this June, 2D03 effort, samples were taken only at discharges with flow at the time of the field
visit The recorded selenium values ranged from 2.6 m 54 ug/1, with seven discharges exhibiting values above the water-
quality standard Table 1 provides the results for discharges from your company's faciities.
Table 1. Selenium Conceah'ation in Discharge Water

COG500397 bell Pit 4.3
COG-500400 4D Pit 8.3
COG500136 DS&GPit#1 IS`
16"
COG-500216 Eiagie Pit
Itailhcad Pit ~ 39
54
COG500218 Fruits Gravel Pit: 2.6
• Duplicate samples collected and considered as as average of 15.5 trg/I
yt-fqR~ =03(0 `~
In view of the results, the Division is concerned that the current General Pct>st (COG-0500000) for discharges from sand-
and-gravel operations tray not be.adequately protective. Thus, the Division is eoasidering the development of a second
gwual permit for aggregate tainiaglprocessing facilities to implement control of selenium in discharges to receiving waters
thax ase itapaixed for seleniumand/or desiynatad as critical T&E fish habitat This effort would include designation of stream
segmears m be witlria scope of this new general pemut an3 appropriate permit conditions m address sources of seleniuto,