HYDRO24747

• Permit No: C1982057
• IBM Index Class Name: Hydrology
• Doc Date: 2/2/1998
• Doc Name: REPORTED UPSET CONDITION OUTFALL 006 CDPS PN CO-0000221 ROUTT CNTY
• From: COLO DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT
• To: SENECA COAL CO
• Permit Index Doc Type: NPDES
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

.,

Roy Romer, Governor
Patti Shwryder, Executive Director
Dedicated to protecting and improving the health and environment olthe people olCobrado
4300 Cherry Creek Dr. S. Laboramry and Radiation Services Division
Denier, Colorado 80246-1530 8100 Lowry BNd.
Phone [phone] ~Derrver CO 80220-6928
Located in Glendale, Colorado (3031692-7090
http://www.cdphesrate.m.us
January 16, 1998
Michael G. Altavilla, P.E.
Seneca Coal Company
P.O. Drawer D
Hayden, Colorado 81639
RE: Reported Upset Condition, Outfall 006
CDPS Permit No. CO-0000221, Routt County
Dear Mr. Altavilla,
STATE OF COLORADO

~ ~~.
.r~
ColOndo Department
of Public Health
and Fnvitvtutxnt
RECEIVED
FEB 02 1998
Division of Minerals 8 Geobgy
This letter is in response to your letter dated December 29, 1997 in which you provided additional
information regarding the reported noncompliance of effluent limits due to a rain event that occurred
from September 18 - 23, 1997. After reviewing your letter and our telephone conversation on
January 9, 1998, we believe that Seneca Coal Company qualifies for the storm water exemption.
Your letter provided a precipitation log from September 18-26, 1997. Recorded rainfall from
September 18 through September 19, 1997 showed an accumulation of 1.80 inches qualifying the
stone as greater than a 10-year/24hour event, therefore, waiving you from Total Suspended Solids
and Total Iron limitations. The self-monitoring data on your third quarter Discharge Monitoring
Report that qualifies for the storm water exemption is shown below:
Date Sampled Parameter
3097 DMR TSS (mg/I)
3Q97 DMR TSS (mg/I)
3097 DMR Iron, Total (mg/I)
3097 DMR Iron, Total (mg/I)
Seneca Results
1399 (30 day avg)
5500 (daily nix)
25.99(30 day avg)
102 (daily nix)
Permit Conditions
35 (30 day avg)
70 (daily nix)
3.0 (30 day avg)
6.0 (daily nix)
In addition, Seneca Coal Company requested the Division reconsider the violations that occurred
on October 29, 1997 as an upset condition. A determination that an upset condition caused the
violations, would only be an affirmative defense in any enforcement action brought for these
violations. At this time, we have not made a final decision whether we will pursue a formal
enforcement action. Therefore, it is not in our best interest to render a decision on this issue.