2009-03-06_PERMIT FILE - C1981012A (6)

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CO-0000906 New Elk Mine Water Quality Assessment • the mass-balance equation is not as applicable For non-conservative parameters and ammonia, and thus other approaches are considered where appropriate. here is no degradation, whereas non- are pollutants that are modeled as if mass is conserved and conservative pollutants degrade and sometimes are created within a receiving stream depending on stream conditions. For the Left Fork of Apache Canyon Creek, when Q, equals zero, Q2 equals Qj, and the following results: M2=M3 Because the low flow (Qj) for the Left Fork of Apache e Canyon Creek concern is equal to the in- capacity of the Left Fork of Apache Canyon Creek for pollutant stream water quality standards. A more detailed discussion of the technical analysis for these parameters is provided in the pages that follow. Pollutants Evaluated The following parameters were identified by the Division as pollutants to be evaluated for this . facility: Metals Boron. During assessment of the facility, nearby facilities, and receiving stream water quality, no additional parameters were identified as pollutants of concern. New Elk Mine: The New Elk Mine is located in the North'/2 of the South 11/2 of S23, T33S, R68W; at 12250 Highway 12, Weston, CO 81091; 37° 09.494' latitude North and 104° 48.111' longitude West in Las Animas County. The facility plans to install pumps with mine dewatering capacity, applicable to both outfalls, of 2500 gallons per minute (gpm) or f 3.6 .6 MGD. Thus, the combined design capacity of both Outfalls 001 and 009 is 3.6 MGD (5.6 Note that this permit is being set up with a tiered flow rate system to incorporate varying flow rates from the facility. Tiers will be set at 900 gpm (1.3 mgd, 2.0 cfs) and 200 gpm (0.288 mgd, 0.45 cfs). Wastewater treatment at Outfall 001 is accomplished using a sedimentation pond. There is no treatment in place after the mine adit at Outfall 009. The technical analyses that follow include assessments of the assimilative capacity based on this design capacity. Nearby Sources An assessment of nearby facilities based on EPA's Permit Compliance System (PCS) database found 18 dischargers in the Las Animas County area. Nine were CBM facilities (including two CBM related facilities) and three were coal mines. The nearest dischargers were: • Appendix A (WQA Version s-a(rnaL)) Page 12 of 29 Last Revised August 26, 2008