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~ MOUNTAIN COAL <br />/,y-~~~ CQMP~NNY~.~.~. <br />A Subsidiary of Arch Western Resources, LLC <br />July 29, 2005 <br />RECEIVED <br />AUG 012005 <br />CNviswn of Minarets and Geology <br />West Elk Mine <br />POBox591 <br />5174 Highway 133 <br />Somerset, CO 81434 <br />(970)929-5015 <br />Fax (970) 929-5595 <br />Mr. Jeff Coomb <br />Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment <br />Water Quality Control Division (WQCD), Enforcement and Compliance Section <br />4300 Cherry Creek Drive South <br />Denver, CO 80222-1530 <br />Re: Mountain Coal Company, LLC (MCC), West Elk Mine, CDPS Permit No. CD-0038776, <br />Discharge Monitoring Reports for the Second Quarter 2005. <br />Dear Mr. Coomb: <br />Attached aze the Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) for the second quarter of 2005. Also attached <br />are the Biomonitoring reports from the SeaCrest Group dated May 27, 2005, for Outfa11017. <br />Additional test results are attached (3) that were conducted at the 017 Discharge Point and in Sylvester <br />Gulch and reported June 23, 2005. <br />The discharge from Outfa11017, is experiencing high alkalinity values resulting in failure of the <br />biomonitoring tests in Daphnia magna populations. The new NPDES (CDPS} Permit requires the <br />effects of the TDS be accounted for in subsequent testing. Accordingly, SeaCrest performed a series of <br />tests in conjunction with the original effluent, as part of the permit requirements to confirm the effects <br />of TDS against other possible contaminants. The reports detail the results of the tests. The fathead <br />minnow, Pimephales promelas, populations were unaffected. Also attached aze the comprehensive <br />analyses of the 017 Dischazge Point water to show that the alkalinity is not masking some other source <br />of toxicity. The attached analyses also show that with simultaneous sampling conducted at three <br />locations along Sylvester Gulch that there is a natural attenuation of alkalinity as the water flows <br />downstream from the 017 discharge point. Additional investigations aze on-going. <br />MCC has established through the testing that alkalinity is the causative issue with the Daphnia magna <br />populations. MCC has hired Wright Water Engineers to investigate the options available for MCC to <br />either benefit from the mixing-zone guidance from the State or to conclude biomonitoring at the 017 <br />discharge point. <br />