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~~MOUNTAIN COAL <br />COMPANYL.L.c. <br />A Subsidiary of Arch Western Resources, LLC <br />May 2, 2005 <br />Mr. Jeff Coomb <br />West Elk Mine <br />P O Box 591 <br />S l74 Highway 133 <br />Somerset, CO 81434 <br />RECEIVEI~ax (970) 9295595 <br />MAY 0 6 2005 <br />Dhdawn of Minarets and Geoiopy <br />Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment <br />Water Quality Control Division (WQCD), Enforcement and Compliance Section <br />4300 Cherry Creek Drive South <br />Denver, CO 80222-1530 <br />Re: Mountain Coal Company, LLC (MCC), West Elk Mine, CDPS Permit No. CO-0038776, <br />Discharge Monitoring Reports for the First Quarter 2005. <br />Dear Mr. Coomb: <br />Attached are the Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) for the first quarter of 2005. Also attached are <br />the Biomonitoring reports from the SeaCrest Group dated January 31, 2005, for Outfa11017. <br />The discharge from Outfa11017, is experiencing high alkalinity values resulting in failure of the <br />biomonitoring tests in Daphnia magna populations. The new NPDES (CDPS) Permit requires the <br />effects of the TDS be accounted for in subsequent testing. Accordingly, SeaCrest performed a series of <br />tests in conjunction with the original effluent, as part of the permit requirements to confum the effects <br />of TDS against other possible contaminants. The reports detail the results of the tests. The fathead <br />minnow, Pimephales promelas, populations were unaffected. Also attached aze the comprehensive <br />analyses of the 017 Dischazge Point water to show that the alkalinity is not masking some other source <br />of toxicity. <br />MCC has established through the testing that alkalinity is the causative issue with the Daphnia magna <br />populations. MCC has hired Wright Water Engineers to investigate the options available for MCC to <br />benefit from the mixing-zone guidance from the State. <br />Should you or your staff have questions or need additional information concerning these Discharge <br />Monitoring Reports, please contact me at (970) 929-2238. <br />Sin e e `tt~~~~ <br />my B e <br />Enviro ental Engineer <br />Enclosures; NPDES Forms (DMRs) for 1st Quarter 2005 <br />cc: James Burnell - CDMG <br />K. Fucik-SeaCrest Labs <br />J. Kelly -Wright Water Engineers <br />Availability of Records File -NPDES <br />