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COLORADO DEPARTMENTOFPUBLICHEALTHANDENV/RONMENT, WaterQualiryControlDivision <br />Rationale -Page 2, Permit No. CO-003271 S <br />016 SR Post-mining 2 ponds 0 0 <br />Vol <br />0.90 MG Sage Gulch <br />017 SR, MW Active 2 ponds 0.206 0.206 1.10 MG Oak Gulch <br />018 SR Active 1 pond 0 0 1.21 MG Horse Gulch <br />019 SR, MW Active 1 pond 0 0 1.39 MG West Flume Gulch <br />020 SR, MW Active 3 ponds 0 0 7.03 MG Middle Flume Gulch <br />021 SR, MW Active 1 pond 0 0 1.71 MG East Middle Flume Gulch <br />D22 SR Active 1 pond NA NA 0.70 MG Deal Gulch <br />023 SR, MW Active I pond 0 0 0.55 MG East Flume Gulch <br />014 SR Active 1 pond NA NA 0.25 MG West Horse Gulch <br />SR means Surface Runoff, MW means Mine Water, SS means Spoils Spring Water, FD means French Drain Water <br />NA indicates that pond has not yet been constructed, specifications for these ponds are proposed <br />F. CLRB Permit No.: C-81-010 <br />III. RECEIVING STREAM <br />An assessment of the stream standards, low flow data, and ambient stream dtita has been performed to determine the assimilative <br />capacities for Johnson Gulch, No Name Gulch, Far East Buzzard Gulch, Coyote Gulch, Ute Gulch, Middle Pyeatt Gulch, East <br />Pyeatt Gulch, West Pyean Gulch, Deer Gulch, Grouse Gulch, Sage Gulch, Oak Gulch, Horse Gulch, West Horse Gulch, West <br />Flume Gulch, Middle Flume Gulch, East Middle Flume Gulch, East Flume Gulch, and Deal Gulch for potential pollutanu of <br />concern. Thu information is contained in Appendix A to this rationale. The Division's Permits Unit has reviewed the <br />assimilative capacities to determine the appropriate water quality-based effluent limitations.- The limitations based on the <br />assessment and other evaluations conducted as part of thu rationale can be found in Tables VI-1, V/-2, and VI-3 of this rationale. <br />I[' FACILITYDESCRIPTION . <br />A. Industry Description <br />1. Tvne oflndustrv: This facility is a large active surface coal mine. The current production rate is approximately 2.0 <br />million tons per year, the maximum production is limited to 2.6 million tons per year. Mining has concluded in some <br />portions of the site and most areas have been reclaimed. Other areas will be reclaimed in the near future. <br />2. Sources to the Treatment Plant: Surface runoff water ("SR') is treated in sedimentation ponds. Water pumped from <br />active mining areas ("mine water" or "MW') may be combined with SR for treatment prior to discharge. Additionally, <br />French drain water ("FD') under a road is routed to the ponds culminating at outfa11001, however this is a relatively <br />clean source of water, unaffected by mining activities. Refer to Table77-1 for information regarding which outfalls <br />discharge SR alone and which discharge in combination with MW or FD. <br />3. Chemicals Used: The permittee did not specify any chemicals for use in waters that may be discharged. On this basis, <br />no chemicals are approved under this permit. Prior Yo use of any applicable chemical, the permittee must submit a <br />request for approval that includes the moss current Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for that chemical. Until <br />approved, use of any chemical in waters that may be discharged could result in a discharge of pollutanu not authorized <br />under the permit. Also see Part ILA.I. of the permit. <br />B. Wastewater Treatment Description <br />All wastewater continues to be treated in sedimentation ponds. Outfalls 003, 006, and 010 have been removed since the <br />areas previously served by these outfalls have been fully reclaimed andfinal bond has been released 6y the Colorado <br />Division of Minerals and Geology. Spoils spring water no longer flows to outfall 001. Active mining has ceased at areas <br />served by outfalls 001 and 009, although reclamation work has not yet been completed. The previously mined area served by <br />outfa11002 will be used to dispose ofpower plant fly ash. <br />Further, reclamation activities have occurred to the point that the Federal Effluent Guideline definition ofpost-mining <br />applies at outfalls 012, 013, 015, and 016. Other areas may meet this definition later this year, bur none are expected in the <br />next few months. <br />Pursuant to the authority ojArticle 9, Title 25, Regulations for the Certification of Water Treatment Plant and Wastewater <br />Treatment Plant Operators, this facility will require a certified operator. <br />Last Revised: 9/29/1004 <br />