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At the request of WFC, I reconvened the continued assessment conference at <br />1:30pm on the 6th of September. During that continued conference <br />representatives of WFC and the Division spoke to the issue of good faith, As <br />a result of the resumed discussion, I have further developed my opinion <br />regarding good faith in relation to CO C-88-017. It took longer than a month <br />for WFC to ascertain that only NALCO could analytically determine the <br />concentration of NALCO 8852 contained in a sample of water. During that <br />period it was not possible for WFC to determine the levels of flocculent in <br />the pond or stream waters, and impractical to specify possible abatement <br />methodology. The release of toxic water from the ponds was eventually <br />remedied by dillution by waters pumped into the ponds from the underground <br />waters. In the opinion of WFC it was not possible for them to discontinue <br />pumping from the underground warkings, and therefore impossible to cease <br />release of water from the ponds into the surface drainage and waterways. The <br />company did not affect abatement through specific action. Therefore, while I <br />commend WFC for a timely and responsible handling of the situation, in my <br />opinion, it was impossible for WFC to meet the criteria for award of good <br />faith adjustment in this situation, as specified in Rule 5.04.5 (3 )(d ). <br />In light of the above summarized conclusions, I am issuing the settlement <br />agreement in the amount originally proposed by the Division's assessment <br />officer, E11,000,00, <br />Separate Agency Actions <br />The Mined Land Reclamation Division is aware that separate actions are being <br />taken by the Water Quality Control Division of the Colorado Department of <br />Health and the Colorado Division of Wildlife with respect to Wyoming Fuel <br />Company's use and discharge of flocculents during the period of January <br />through March 1988 and a resulting fish kill in the Purgatoire River. More <br />specifically, the Division of Wildlife has made a civil claim pursuant to <br />section 33-6-110, C.R. S. (1984) to recover the value of wildlife unlawfully <br />taken; and the Water Quality Control Division has issued a Notice of <br />Violation and Cease and Desist and Clean Up Order concerning the discharge <br />pursuant to the Water Quality Control Act, sections 25-8-101 to -703, <br />C.R.S. (1982 and 1987 Supp.). This penalty assessment proposed by the Mined <br />Land Reclamation Division is in no way intended to settle or compromise these <br />separate actions by the Water Quality Control Division or the Division of <br />Wildlife. <br />Conference Continuance <br />At the request of WFC representative, Lindeke Trumbly, I continued the <br />conference until July 29, 1988, in order to accommodate Wyoming Fuel <br />Corporation's on-going attempt to reach a joint settlement with all three of <br />the regulatory agencies involved. At WFC's request I reconvened the <br />conference on September 6th, at 1:30pm. The conference was closed at <br />approximately 3:OOpm, September 6th, and this settlement agreement issued <br />prior to the close of the business day that same afternoon. <br />