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COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT, Water Quality Control Division <br />Rationale - Page 4. Permit No. COG500000 <br />A Salinity, or Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) is an issue in the Colorado River Basin. Regulation 39, "Regulations for <br />Implementation of the Colorado River Salinity Standards through the Colorado Discharge Permit Program, "addresses the <br />discharge of TDS to the Colorado River Basin. The regulation requires that the salinity of each discharge to the Colorado <br />River Basin he evaluated for impact on the system. <br />TDS will be included in the monitoring for dischargers in the Colorado River Basin, however, limits will not be imposed. <br />The Division does reserve the right to impose limits on permittees if the TDS levels are determined to be detrimental or <br />endanger the beneficial uses of the waters. If TDS monitoring is a requirement of the permit then it shall be included within <br />the terms and conditions of the individual Certification Rationale of the permit. Additional monitoring for TDS shall be <br />included on the Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMR) and shall be subject to the permit's monitoring and reporting <br />requirements. TDS sampling shall be on a quarterly basis, taken as a grab sample. <br />Where, based on a minimum of S samples, the permittee demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Water Quality Control <br />Division that the level of TDS in the effluent can be calculated based upon the level of electrical conductivity, the permittee <br />may measure and report TDS in terms of electrical conductivity. <br />c_ Phosphorus: Due to the effects of nutrient loading in drinking water storage reservoirs, (algae blooms, taste and odor <br />problems, oxygen depletion) various phosphorus regulations have been developed to track the loading in the affected <br />basins. Therefore, total phosphorus (as P) monitoring is required forfacilities which dischargeprocess water into the <br />following drainage basins: Cherry Creek basin, Chatfield Reservoir basin downstream of the USGSgage at Waterton <br />and on Plum Creek, Dillon Reservoir basin (i.e. Ten Mile Creep Snake River, Blue River, all tributaries to the Dillon <br />Reservoir), and Bear Creek basin. The Division also reserves the right to include phosphorus monitoring for any <br />receiving waters that may later enter into phosphorus monitoring requirements, orforfacilities that use phosphorus <br />chemicals for treatment. If phosphorus monitoring is a requirement of the permit then it shall be included within the <br />terms and conditions of the individual Certification Rationale of the permit. Additional monitoring for phosphorus <br />shall be included on the (DAM) and shall be subject to the permit's monitoring and reporting requirements. <br />Phosphorus sampling shall be on a monthly basis, taken as a grab sample. <br />d. Graphite: In the case of graphite mining, the federal effluent guidelines (40 CFR 436.382) call for a limit for Total <br />Iron. Since the Division has Water Quality Standards in many areas of the state, which may be stricter than the <br />federal limits, coverage ofprocess water discharges from this type offacility must be under an individua/permit. <br />B. Stormwater Discharges <br />1. Stormwater vs. Process water <br />When stormwater mixes with process water, the process water limitations (Part LB of the permit) apply to the discharge of <br />that mixed water. The stormwater section (Part LC of the permit) is intended to cover those portions of a nonmetallic <br />minerals production operation (except fuel) that are not already subject to effluent limitations under 40 CFR 436, and to <br />cover stormwater rung f `'from asphalt and concrete. batch plants. <br />2. Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) <br />The stormwater regulations primarily apply to areas not covered by 40 CFR Part 436 They require permittees to develop <br />and implement a Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) to protect the quality of stormwater leaving the site. The plan <br />shall identify potential sources of pollution (including sediment) which may reasonably be expected to affect the quality of <br />stormwater discharges associated with mining activity. In addition, the plan shall describe the best management practices <br />(BMPs) which will be used to reduce the pollutants in stormwater discharges from the mining site. <br />Some activities required under the SWMP may already be in place. However, the SWMP will require the permittee to <br />coordinate these activities with any necessary new activities in an orderly manner, so that the result is the reduction or <br />elimination ofpollutants reaching state waters from areas not limited by effluent limitations. Facilities must implement the <br />provisions of the SWMP required under this part as a condition of this permit. <br />It is thepermittee's responsibility to notify the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (formerly the Colorado Mined <br />Land Reclamation Division) ofany significant changes at their site resultingfrom the implementation of the SWMP. This is <br />so that the Division of Minerals and Geology may review the SWMP and incorporate any potential revisions into the <br />facility's reclamation permit which might be needed. <br />The SWMP shall include the following items, at a minimum: