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COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTHAND ENVIRONMENT, Water Quality Control Division Rationale-Page 1, Permit No. CO-00321!5 or 016 SR Post-mining 2 ponds 0 0 0.90 MG Sage Gulch 017 SR, MW Active 1 ponds 0.106 0.206 2.10 MG Oak Gulch 018 SR Active 1 pond 0 0 1.21 MG Horse Gulch 019 SR, MW Active 1 pond 0 0 1.39 MG Wesr Flume Gulch 020 SR, MW Active 3 ponds 0 0 7.03 MG Middle Flume Gulch 011 SR, MW Active 1 pond 0 0 1.71 MG East Middle Flume Gulch 022 SR Active 1 pond NA NA 0.70 MG Deal Gulch 023 SR, MW Active 1 pond 0 0 0.55 MG East Flume Gulch 014 SR Active 1 pond NA NA 0.25 MG West Horse Gulch SR means Surface Runoff, MW means Mine Water, SS means Spoils Spring Wares, FD means French Drain Water. NA indicates that pond has not yet been constructed, specifications for these ponds are proposed F. CLRBPermuNo.: C-81-0/0 III. RECEIVING STREAM An assessment of the stream standards, low flow data, and ambient stream data has been performed to determine the assimilative capacities for Johnson Gulch, No Name Gulch, Far East Buzzard Gulch, Coyote Gulch, Ute Gulch, Middle Pyean Gulch, East Pyeatt Gulch, West Pyeatt Gulch, Deer Gulch, Grouse Gulch, Sage Gulch, Oak Gulch, Horse Gulch, West Horse Gulch, West Flume Gulch, Middle Flume Gulch, East Middle Flume Gulch, East Flume Gulch, and Deal Gulch for potential pollutants of concern. This information is contained in Appendix A to this rationale. The Division's Permits Unit has reviewed the assimilative capacities to determine the appropriate water quality-based effluent limitations. The limitations based on the assessment and other evaluations conducted as pan of this rationale can be found in Tables VI-1, VI-2, and V/-3 of this rationale. IY FACILITYDESCRIPTION A. Industry Description 1. Tvoe oflndustrv: This facility is a large active surface coal mine. The currentproduction rate is approximately 2.0 million tons per year, the maximum production is limited to 2.6 million tons per year. Mining has concluded in some portions of the site and most areas have been reclaimed. Other areas will be reclaimed in the near furore. 2. Sources to the Treatment Plant: Surface runoff water ("SR') is treated in sedimentation ponds. Water pumped from active mining areas ("mine water" or "MW') may be combined with SR for treatment prior to discharge. Additionally, French drain water ("FD') under a road is routed to the ponds culminating at outfa11001, however this is a relatively clean source of water, unaffected by mining activities. Refer to Table II-1 for information regarding which outfalls discharge SR alone and which discharge in combination with MW or FD. 3. Chemicals Used: The permittee did not specify any chemicals for use in waters that may be discharged. On this basis, no chemicals are approved under this permit. Prior ro use of any applicable chemical, the permtttee must submit a request for approval that includes the most current Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for that chemical. Until approved, use of any chemical in waters that may be discharged could result in a discharge ofpollutants not authorized under the permit. Also see Pan II A.I. of the permit. B. Wastewater Treatment Description All wastewater continues to be treated in sedimentation ponds. Outfa[ls 003, 006, and 0/0 have been removed since the areas previously served by these outfalls have been fully reclaimed and final bond has been released by the Colorado Division ojMinerals and Geology. Spoils spring water no longer flows to outfall 007. Active mining has ceased at areas served by outfalls 002 and 009, although reclamation work has not yet been completed. The previously mined area served by outfal1001 will be used to dispose ofpower_ plant fly ash. Further, reclamation activities have occurred to the point that the Federal Effluent Guideline definition ofposr-mining applies at outfalls 012, 013, 015, and 016. Other areas may meet this definition later this year, but none are expected in the next few months. Pursuant to the authority ofArticle Q Title 25, Regulations for the Certification ojWater Treatment Plant and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators, this facility will require a certified operator. Last Revised: 3/11/1004