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The CDPS 'permit had in the past included a specified salinity stan'dazd of not more than one ton <br />per day or 350 tons per yeaz of total dissolved solids, whicheveris less. The Roadside Mines <br />salinity discharge exceeds this level, primarily due to mine waterydischarges. As a result, the <br />operator was required by the Colorado Department of Health and Epvironment (DOH) to prepare <br />a report outlining possible approaches to reducing the mines' contributions of salt to the <br />Colorado River, and associated costs. This report, "Evaluation of Alternatives for Management <br />of Salt in Mine Water Discharges: Roadside and Cameo Mines;' Powderhorn Coal Company; <br />Palisade, Colorado." was completed in February, 1993. Based on the report, DOH made a <br />determination that salt elimination or reduction would not be economically feasible, and granted <br />an exemption from salinity standazds (3/17/93 letter, Appen. 17 ;2). DOH has not revised that <br />determination, and it remains valid (August 2003). <br />The Division has granted a number of small area exemptions from the use ofsediment ponds due <br />to the limited size of the azeas in question and due to the fact that ponds and treatment facilities <br />are not necessary for the drainage from these sites to meet the eftliient limitations ofRule 4.05.2 <br />and applicable State and Federal water quality standazds for receiving streams and also due to <br />the fact that no mixing of surface drainage from these areas with ti: discharge from underground <br />workings will occur. The small azeas to be exempted are listed ink Volume 3, Appendix 13-3 of <br />the permit application (4.05.2(3)(b)(i)). <br />In 1997, Pond 12 was designed to act as a mine water treatment pond for the mine water <br />discharge associated with the Roadside North Portal Mine, N(PDES discharge point 004. <br />Discharge from the North Portal Mine required pumping, which ci;ased in December 1999 when <br />operations ceased. Outfall 004 has been discontinued and Pond 12 has been eliminated by <br />reclamation operations. <br />Discharge Outfall 015 had been approved for minewater discharge from the South Mine 2 West <br />Portals. The outfall was never activated and the 2 West Portals have been sealed and reclaimed. <br />Only two approved minewater discharge sites remain, both at the South Mine. Outfall 016, <br />located neat the North Decline Area is the primary dewatering site, and Outfall 002, the siphon <br />discharge system at the reclaimed Northwest Intake Portal has` been retained as aback-up <br />discharge sate that would be used in the event of malfunction of butfal1016. <br />The Division proposes to grant an exemption from the use of sediment ponds for NPDES <br />discharge pbints 002 and 016 from underground mine workings Because sediments are settled <br />out in abandoned underground workings before being discharged into the Colorado River. <br />Additional ponds and treatment facilities are not necessary for the~~e discharge points to meet the <br />effluent limitations ofRule 4.05.2 and applicable State and Federal water quality standards for <br />receiving streams. <br />B. Diversions and Conveyance of Overland Flow <br />All conveyance structures within the permit area are designed and constructed in <br />accordance with Rule 4.05.3. Permanent diversions abov~$ coal mine waste banks are <br />designed and constructed in accordance with Rule 4.09.2(7). ~ Table 13-4 of the application <br />lists all diversion and conveyance ditches along with refereni:es to the appropriate exhibits <br />for designs and cross sections. Calculations used to design ;these structures aze given in <br />appendix ]3-2 of the permit application. A number of permanent channels or channel <br />segments have been constructed or will be constructed folloviing reclamation oftemporary <br />Permit Revision No. 3 <br />July 30, 200'7 <br />Permit No. C-1981-041 <br />Page 22 <br />