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PEAB~DY COAL COfV~ANY <br />ROCKY MOUNTAIN DIVISION <br />CAMPUS 6 OFFICE. SUITE 600. 12015 EAST 66TH AVENUE <br />DENVER. COLORADO 80239 <br />~~ • 1303) 371.7990 <br />January 13, 1982 <br />Mr. Jeb Love. Chief <br />Permits Section <br />Water Quality Control Division <br />4210 East 11th Avenue <br />Denver, Colorado 80220 <br />RE: Request for Variance From TSS Effluent Limitations at <br />Mesa Gravel Pit, Permit No. CO-0037656 <br />Dear Mr. Love: <br />During the past year we have consistently violated our permit limitations <br />~, for TSS at the above referenced facility. These high TSS contents consist <br />• primarily of organic matter which result from algal blooms occurring in <br />the pond. Several attempts have been made to control these algal blooms with <br />small amounts of copper sulfate algicide; however, these attempts have <br />only been temporarily successful. <br />The cause of the problem stems from the fact that most of the runoff entering <br />this pond is runoff from agricultural land. Approximately 14 acres of <br />the 20.04 acres contributing to the Mesa Pond comes from land which is <br />leased to a local farmer and 1s in wheat production. It appears that <br />the nutrient rich runoff from this land enters the pond and causes thick <br />algal blooms to occur which in turn cause elevated levels of TSS to be <br />observed 1n the pond effluent. <br />To remedy this situation. there appears to be two possible solutions: <br />1) Divert runoff from the 14 tilled acres around the Mesa Pond and directly <br />into the ephemeral tributary of Sage Creek; or 2) allow the water to con- <br />tinue to enter the Mesa Pond and apply fora variance from TSS limitations. <br />The design capacity of the Mesa Pond is sufficient to contain the 10-year, <br />24-hour storm runoff from the entire 20.04 acre area, and for this reason, <br />it seems logical that the latter alternative has some merit and should be <br />seriously considered. Therefore. we respectfully request that the Permits <br />Section consider granting Peabody Coal Company a variance from TSS effluent <br />limitations for the Mesa Gravel Pit. Information pertaining to pond design <br />and TSS violations is attached. <br />~• <br />