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JAN-05-04 15:45 FROM-Colorado Division of Minerals 8 Geology +)3036663567 T-520 P.002/p07 F-3Z6 r!,~tr ~I ~ '~/ ss~ ~~,y ~~ATE of coLo~o Bill Owens, GoYemor • Douglas H. Benevento, Executive Dlredor •oF~ eon Dedicated m protecting and lmpfavtng the heahh and ahvlranment of the people at Cobrado y~ ° 4900 Cherry Creek Dr. S. Laboratory Services DNlslon Denver, Colctadc 8024(r159D 8100 Lowry BNd. ~ *+ Phone (303) 692.2009 Denver, Colorado 60230-6928 reae TDD Une (30.9)691-T/00 (303) 692-3091) Fro"'t. ~Colotado D artmenr LocatedlnGlendale,Colarado ~~~~~~'~~ ~~~ of Pgblic http://www.cdphestate.co.us aadFnvrronment DEC'3 t 2003 ~ M.A. Concrete Coastroetion, lac f Artenliom MaLl1Il Auairaga, Fresidem TO . pisisian of Minerals and Geelop~~ 2323 Rivet Road Grand 7tmcrion, Colorado 81502 // Bresem6ar36,2~943,, Re ~ otential Impacts of Selenium is Discbarges~(3om Selected Satsd and Gravel Operations 1'S C l.r C 1 V C LJ Along the cruaaison and colotaao Rivers. JAN 2 6 2004 Deaz Mt. Azcattaga: Division of Minerals and CeologY Doting the Febtttary, 2003 meeting of the Selenium Task Force, the US Fish and Wildlife Service verbally expressed concern to the Virater Quality Control Division about a selenium concentration of greater rhea 100 micrograms per liter (ug/1) in a water sample it collected from the discharge of a sand-and-gravel operation to the Crunaistro River near Delia This bas eaitsed the Division to more closely euamin~ the solaces of selenium to the Gunnison and Colorado Rivers, especially In segments identified as impaired for selenium tmdcr Section 303(d) of Ste Clean Water Act, i.e. the total maraamm daily load (TMDL) program. Some of these waters also serve as habitat for threattaaed and endangered fishes. Ambient selenium ~ . concentrations in reaches of these rivers eta believed to exceed the applicable water-quality staadad of 4.6 ug/1, and the Division receady proposed to our Commisafon that 9 additional segments of the Gtumison and Colorado Rivets be listed as itpaired for selenium. CmrenSy, the 2002 version of this list has 8 segments of these rivers listed as impaired on the basis of selenium. As part of the an-going etfotu to develop information for use in permitting decisions involving dtscharges'to these' impaired waters, the Division sampled 9 of rite 25 permitted, sand-and-gravel discharges to the above segments and analyzed them for selenium concentration. For this Tune, 2003 effort, samples were taken only at discharges with flow at the time of the field visit The recorded selenitms values tagged from 2.6 to 54 ug/1, with seven discharges exhtbitiag values above the water- qualitystandard. Table 1 provides the results for tiisaharges fiom yorir company's facilities. Table 1. Selenium Concentration in Discharge Water M-J'Zovo--o3~.'~ In vices of the results, the Division is concerned that the etnrent General Ferttrit (COG-0500000). for discharges from ssad- and-gravel operations may not be adequately protective. Thus, the Division is considering Ste development of a second general permit for aggregate mining/processiag facr7ities to implement contol of selenium in discharges to receiving waters that are impaired for selenium and/or designated as critical T&E Ssh habitat. This eifort would include desif;oation of stream segments to be within swpe of this new general permit and appropriate germit conditions to address solaces of selenium, along with associatedmoniroriag. However, before the issuance of say new general permit or the development of any other requirement, the Division will be soliciting information and ideas from the sand-and-gravel operarors/owaers in a$ecud areas of the Lower Colorado River Basin. We propose meeting with the affected companies gad are aslong Ms. Melissa Xoung (Regulatory Specialist for CRMA/CRPA) to coordinate with the sand-and-gravel operators to select a date and time in 7anvary 2004 for a meeting in Grand 7tmction