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jC <br />c <br />�E/VECA <br />Coal Company Seneca Coal Company <br />October 24, 2012 <br />Colorado Department of Health RECEIVED <br />WQCD -PE -132 ,... , <br />4' )00 Cherry Creek Drive South k" ' <br />Denver, CO 80246 -1530 Divisjon 01 r;�clamation, <br />Mining and Safety <br />RE: Quarterly Discharge Monitoring Report for Seneca Coal Company, Permit CO- 0000221 <br />Dear Sir or Madam: <br />Pursuant to the quarterly reporting requirements contained in Colorado Discharge Permit CO- 0000221 for <br />the Seneca Mine Complex, enclosed find the third quarter 2012 discharge monitoring reports for Outfalls <br />005, 006 and 008 to 017. In this quarter, intermittent discharges were observed at Outfalls 010, 013, 015 <br />and 017. No flows were observed at Outfalls 005, 009, 011, and 014. All other Outfalls discharged <br />continuously. <br />One excursion of an effluent limit occurred this quarter. On July 17, a pH value of 9.07 was measured at <br />Outfall 013. The limit is 9.0. There was no discharge at this pond during a visit at 9:40 AM on July 16. A <br />thunderstorm occurred later that day, caused the Outfall to start discharging again. Discharge from the <br />Outfall stopped early in the morning of July 18, and has not discharged since then. The high pH is mostly <br />likely due to the presence of algae in the Outfall's pond. The phenomenon of algae causing high pH <br />values is well documented. I have attached the first two pages of one such article to this cover letter, <br />which was taken from this website: <br />htips.Hsrac.tamu.edu /index. cfm/ event /yetFactSheet /whichfactsheet /205/ <br />I have also attached a photo taken on July 26, which indicates the presence of algae. Seneca considers this <br />to be an upset condition, in that 1) we can identify the cause (as described above) and 2) this <br />sedimentation pond was being properly operated and maintained at the time. <br />Please contact me at 970 - 276 -5209 if you have any questions. <br />Sincerely, <br />Dennis Jones <br />Hydrologist I <br />cc: Mr. Jared Ebert <br />Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 -2273 <br />Seneca Coal Company • P.O. Box 670 • Hayden, Colorado 81639 <br />Telephone (970) 276 -5217 • FAX (970) 276 -5222 <br />