Laserfiche WebLink
M? Colowyo Coal Company <br /> 5731 State Highway 13 <br />G Meeker, Co 81641 <br />y <br /> <br /> <br />O April 6, 2011 <br /> <br />W'_ 0 '710 1 <br />Div?s?on °t Rcl <br />V-002 &nd eOW <br />Ms. Kelly Morgan <br />Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment <br />Water Quality Control Division <br />4300 Cherry Creek Drive South <br />Denver, CO 80222-1530 <br />RE: Elevated Levels at Outfall 007A, Colowyo Coal Company L.P. (Colowyo) CDPS <br />Permit No. CO-0045161 <br />Dear Ms. Morgan, <br />Per our phone conversation on April 5, 2011, this letter is to inform you in writing of <br />elevated levels of effluent standards for the month of March 2011. Colowyo Coal <br />Company L.P. sampled Outfall 007A (Prospect Pond) on March 1, 2011, and laboratory <br />analysis was received on March 09, 2011. The results of the analyses indicated that <br />Outfall 007A exceeded the 1.00 mg/L 30-Day Maximum Concentration Average for Total <br />Recoverable Iron with a result of 2.83 mg/L. <br />Colowyo believes this is a rare event. Colowyo did not receive any recordable precipitation <br />within 48 hours of sampling. However, Temperatures on February 28, 2011 reached a high <br />of 39.9 F and for March 1, 2011, the high was 42.0 F, with a 24 hour average of 34.1 F. It is <br />Colowyo's firm belief that the discharge occurring on March 1, 2011 was a direct result of <br />warm temperatures creating snow melt and runoff of accumulated snowpack in the vicinity <br />of the outfall. Please see the attached climatological data and pictures for additional <br />information. <br />Further more, Colowyo's historical laboratory analysis data does not show a trend toward <br />any type of elevated levels at this outfall. The elevated levels Colowyo does experience <br />are associated with either a precipitation or runoff event. Colowyo does not believe that the <br />elevated level is related in any way to a lack of proper pond function as routine inspections <br />of the pond show that it is functioning as designed. Colowyo will continue to closely <br />monitor this and all other outfalls for indications of improper impoundment function but is <br />confident that no such indications or problems exist or will manifest themselves in the <br />future. <br />Colowyo is respectfully requesting a waiver be granted for the elevated level reported at <br />Outfall 007A. Colowyo thanks you in advance for your consideration on this matter. If you <br />should have any additional questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at your <br />convenience at (970) 824-1573.