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~~ <br />PEABODY <br />,WESTERN <br /> <br />C~ <br /> <br />Peabody Western Coal Company ~ <br />Ms. Patricia A. Nelson, P.E. <br />Industrial Unit Chief <br />Permits and Enforcement Section <br />Water Quality Control Division <br />Colorado Department of Health <br />4300 Cherry Creek Drive South <br />Denver, CO 80222-1530 <br />July 28, 1993 <br />RE: TSS Excursions, Second Quarter 1993 <br />NPDES Permit No. CO-0037656 (Mesa Gravel); NPDES Permit No. <br />CO-0000221 (Seneca Mine Complex) <br />Dear Ms. Nelson: <br />Please find enclosed Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMR) for <br />NPDES Permits CO-0037656 (Mesa Gravel), CO-0000221 (Seneca Mine <br />Complex), and COG-850008 (Hayden Gulch Terminal, Inc.) held by <br />Peabody Western Coal Company (PWCC). TSS (total suspended <br />solids) values exceeding permit maximum levels were measured at <br />three discharge sites during the second quarter monitoring <br />period of 1993; these noncompliance discharges are discussed <br />below. Since the TSS excursions did not endanger health or the <br />environment, the exceedences were not orally reported to the <br />Water Quality Control Division within 24 hours. <br />TSS measurements made during June at Outfall 001, Permit No. CO- <br />0037656 (Mesa Gravel) exceeded both the seven day and monthly <br />limits. TSS values of 2, 72, and 24 mg/1 were measured during <br />the seven day period starting 6/24/93. The source of water for <br />these discharges was mine pit pumpage. Water pumped from the <br />mine pits was conveyed to the 001 sediment pond via an unlined <br />ditch approximately 200 yards long. Since the mine pit water <br />was clear, the TSS excursions were likely due to sediment from <br />the unlined ditch. PWCC has remedied this problem by extending <br />the hose from the pump located in the mine pit so that the pit <br />water is contained until it reaches the sediment pond. <br />Noncompliance TSS values were also measured at Outfalls 005 and <br />006, Permit No. CO-0000221 (Seneca Mine Complex). At 005, the <br />30-day average limit of 35 mg/1 TSS was exceeded during the <br />months of April and May, when monthly average TSS values of 38 <br />and 56 mg/1, respectively, were measured. The daily maximum TSS <br />value (70 mg/1) was also exceeded on 5/11/93 when a TSS value of <br />232 mg/1 was recorded. The noncompliance TSS values at Outfall <br />005 were measured during a period of time when Pond 005 had to <br />be dewatered. A leak was discovered around the outlet pipe, so <br />it was necessary to rapidly dewater Pond 005 periodically to <br />Peabody Western Coal Company • 1J00 Sough Yale Street • Flagstaff, Arizona 86001 • Tebphone (60]( 774-5]SS Fa: (604( 77~-43V6 <br />