Laserfiche WebLink
MOUNTAIN COAL <br />COMPANYL.L.C. <br />A Subsidiary of Arch Western Resources, LLC <br />December 30, 2008 <br />Mr. Tom Kaldenbach <br />RECEIVED <br />JAN o 8 2009 <br />Division of Reclamation, <br />Mining and Safety <br />Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety <br />Office of Mined Land Reclamation <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />West Elk Mine <br />P.O. Box 591 <br />5174 Highway 133 <br />Somerset, CO 81434 <br />(970) 929-5015 <br />Fax (970) 929-5595 <br />Re: Mountain Coal Company LLC (MCC), West Elk Mine; Permit No. C-80-007; NPDES Permit <br />No. CO-0038776, 4th Quarter 2008, Exceedances (2) - Analytical Reports. <br />Dear Mr. Kaldenbach: <br />MCC is submitting the attached analytical reports as required by the rules regarding these reported <br />exceedences for 4th quarter 2008. MCC is currently working with the CDPOH&E-WQCD to modify <br />the permit regarding the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) Outfall 007 as the existing limit for <br />Total Suspended Solids (TSS) is not representative of industry guidelines. MCC met with the WQCD <br />Permit Unit on September 1, 2008 to discuss 1) increasing the effluent limit for TSS to 75 mg/L for the <br />30-day average and 110 mg/L for the 7-day/daily maximum based on requirements in Regulation 62 and <br />2) performing mass loading reporting rather than a percent removal requirement. The permit <br />modification was submitted to the WQCD October 30, 2008. <br />MCC requested relief from the 85% effluent TSS and BOD-5 day removal requirement because, while <br />not indicative of the efficiency of the plant, the grey water influent is so low in TSS and BOD-5 day, <br />MCC has a difficult time meeting the 85% removal requirement at the effluent. However, until the <br />submitted permit modification is approved by the WQCD, this is an exceedance of the current permit <br />limit. <br />The exceedances at Outfall 007 occurred December 4, 2008. The effluent TSS was 7 mg/L and the <br />influent TSS was 43 mg/L; therefore, the calculated value for % removal is only 81%. The effluent <br />BOD-5 day was 6.02 mg/L and the influent BOD-5 day was 24.06 mg/L; therefore, the calculated value <br />for % removal is only 75%. It appears the WWTP was operating as designed at the time the exceedance <br />occurred. MCC is investigating to determine if there is any outside interference that could be <br />contributing to the effluent TSS.