2010-03-08_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - M2001113

• Permit No: M2001113
• IBM Index Class Name: GENERAL DOCUMENTS
• Doc Date: 3/8/2010
• Doc Name: Update on groundwater quality issues
• From: United Companies
• To: DRMS
• Email Name: RCO
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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March 4, 2010
P.O. Box 3609
2273 River Road
Grand Junction, CO 81502
[phone]
FAX: [phone]
P.O. Box 1909
21830 Hwy. 550 South
Montrose, CO 81402
[phone]
FAX: [phone]
P.O. Box 103
7255-1800 Rd.
Delta, CO 81416
[phone]
FAX: [phone]
MAR 12
n of ReGWMS'
Di ?°mg as c, ety ? ;b \e\d p?a\\O
Bob Oswald argo,,Vec.52, 'H
Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety J\Mnor a
691 County Road 233 Q\ ;iMr`rg
Durango, CO 81301
P.O. Box 1556
27858 Hwy 6 & 24
Rifle, CO 81650
[phone]
FAX: [phone]
R - tool (t3
RE: -Update on groundwater quality issues near United Companies' Gunnison East
Facility
Dear Mr. Oswald:
This letter provides an update on the recent complaint by Tony Sitts regarding possible groundwater contamination
in his well adjacent to our Hot Mix Asphalt Facility east of Gunnison, Colorado. As you know, Mr. Sitts property is
adjacent to the United Companies' hot mix asphalt plant east of Gunnison, Colorado. I received a phone call from
Mr. Sitts on January 19, 2010 stating that there was oil in his"well. I advised that United Companies would look into
the matter and, as a precaution, arranged for Mr. Sitts to be provided with bottled water while the investigation
was ongoing. Given the information provided below, United Companies has determined that any oil in Mr. Sitts'
well is not related to our plant.
I traveled to Gunnison and collected a series of groundwater samples from Mr. Sitts well (Sample I.D. TW) and a
nearby well on our property (Sample I.D. LS). During sampling of Mr. Sitts well, I noted high levels of iron in the
water and requested that the laboratory analyze for this additional analyte. In addition, I requested that the
laboratory analyze for BTEX and individual carbon chains. I submitted these samples to a certified testing
laboratory and a copy of the results are attached.
Based on these water analyses, there were no BTEX compounds found in the water samples. The carbon chain
analysis was divided into TPH-GRO (C6-C10), compounds typical of gasoline, and TPH-DRO (C11-C-28), compounds
typical of diesel. Both water samples showed non-detectable levels for diesel components in the groundwater.
Mr. Sitts' well did show low levels of TPH-GRO-0.239 mg/I based on the SW846-8015B method. There is no
indication that United Companies' site has ever stored gasoline on site, only diesel and, as noted, diesel was not
detected in either sample.
There.is no drinking water quality standard for TPH (total petroleum hydrocarbons) and no federal secondary water
quality standard for TPH. To my knowledge, only Texas and Wyoming have secondary water quality standards
regarding TPH. Texas establishes a water quality standard of 1.1 mg/I for TPH while Wyoming's TPH water quality
standard is 10 mg/1-both state standards are well above the TPH value measured in Mr. Sitts' well. I was unable
to find any TPH water quality standard on the CDPHE web site for Colorado