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BTU Empire Corporation <br />29515 Routt County Road # 27 <br />Oak Creek, Colorado 80467 <br />(970) 879-3800 <br />January 27, 2014 <br />Ms. Tania Watson <br />Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment <br />Water Quality Control Division - Permits and Enforcement <br />4300 Cherry Creek Drive South <br />Denver, CO 80222-1530 <br />RE: PERMIT CO-0034142; BTU EMPIRE 4TH QUARTER 2010 DMR SUBMITTAL <br />Dear Ms. Watson: <br />Rffcalvejo <br />F?. p 2011 <br />DivIsyorr or Rlso <br />Mining a)yd s i y?' <br />Enclosed, please find the above referenced discharge monitoring report for the period October 1, 2010 through December 31, <br />2010. Due to a damaged dewater pump, Outfall 003A/003X flowed only a few hours on day during the period. The defective <br />pump should be replaced in the spring of 2011. No exceedances were noted for 003A. Outfall 022A/022X flowed the last <br />week in October, and each week of the remaining period. Outfall 024A/024X did not flow during the period. <br />An exceedance was noted for Outfall 022A (spoil springs), relating to the 30-day average limit for total recoverable iron during <br />December. Two samples were collected in December for iron. The maximum at 1.11 mg/L, and a sample the subsequent <br />week at 0.93 mg/L, for a 30 day average of 1.02 mg/L vs. the permit limit of 1.0 mg/L. Low flows may have influenced the <br />concentration of iron. BTU Empire is considering expanding the size of the sedimentation basin in the spring of 2011 to allow <br />more retention time for this discharge. <br />In 2004, BTU Empire received approval from CDPHE to reduce the frequency of Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) testing for <br />Outfalls 003X, 022X, and 024X to an annual basis (a change from the previous quarterly basis). Annual chronic WET testing <br />was performed during May of 2010. WET testing for Outfalls 003X and 022X tests indicated that the effluent was not acutely <br />toxic to Daphnia magna or fathead minnow survival (see attached laboratory reports). <br />Outfalls, 004A, 007A, 009A, 011 A, 012A, 013A, 014A, 015A, 016A, 017A, 018A, 019A, 020A, 021 A, 023A, and 024A/024X, <br />along with Site 3001, did not discharge during this period. In order to reduce the amount of paper work, the following <br />certification will be substituted for the actual DMR forms to cover the outfalls, which did not discharge. <br />CERTIFICATION <br />1 certify under penalty of law that 1 have personally examined and am familiar with the information submitted herein; and <br />based on my inquiry of those individuals responsible for obtaining the information, f believe the submitted information is <br />true, accurate, and complete. 1 am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the <br />possibility of fine and imprisonment. See 18 U.S.C. § 1001 and 33 U.S.C. § 1319. (Penalties under these statutes may <br />include fines up to $10,000 and/or maximum imprisonment of between 6 months and 5 years.) <br />Brian A. Watterson, eologist Da <br />Please contact me directly at (970) 870-2750 with any questions. <br /> <br />Brian A. Watterson, P.G. <br />Geologist, Environmental Group <br />BTU Empire Corporation <br />enclosures