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• <br />Chip Brown, Environmental Engineer 970- 824 -1573 <br />March 23, 2012 <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 />Dear Ms. Morgan, <br />5731 Highway 13 <br />Meeker, Colorado 81641 <br />970 - 824 -1500 <br />1Lt a� o�, <br />�Q�� -e° aer! <br />RE: Elevated Levels at Outfall 001A and Outfall 010A, Colowyo Coal Company L.P. (Colowyo) CDPS <br />Permit No. CO- 0045161 <br />Per our phone conversation on March 23, 2012, this letter is to inform you in writing of elevated levels <br />of effluent standards for the month of March 2012. Colowyo sampled Outfalls 001A and 010A on March <br />8, 2012 and laboratory analysis was received on March 23, 2012. The results of the analyses indicated <br />that Outfall 001A exceeded the 35.0 mg /L 30 -Day Maximum Concentration Average for Total Suspended <br />Solids and the 1.00 mg /L 30 -Day Maximum Concentration Average for Total Recoverable Iron, with <br />results of 136 mg /L for Total Suspended Solids and 5.12 mg /L for Total Recoverable Iron. Outfall 010A <br />exceeded the 1.00 mg /L 30 -Day Maximum Concentration Average for Total Recoverable Iron with a <br />result of 2.77 mg /L. <br />The samples were retested to ensure that the first results were correct. The reruns showed results that <br />coincided with the original results. Pursuant to Permit Number CO- 0045161, Section A.2 the permittee <br />may seek relief from the TSS limitations if the discharge occurred within 48 hours after measurable <br />precipitation (or snowmelt of equivalent volume) has stopped. Colowyo did not receive measurable <br />precipitation 48 hours prior to sampling, however warm temperatures and sunshine have created <br />snowmelt and runoff of accumulated snowpack in the vicinity of the outfalls. Please see the attached <br />climatological data and pictures taken on March 8, 2012 for additional information. <br />Colowyo's historical laboratory analysis data does not show a trend toward any type of elevated levels <br />at these outfalls. The elevated levels Colowyo does experience are associated with either a precipitation <br />or runoff event. Colowyo does not believe that the elevated levels are related in any way to a lack of <br />proper pond function as routine inspections of the pond show that it is functioning as designed. <br />Colowyo will continue to closely monitor these and all other outfalls for indications of proper <br />impoundment function. <br />