HYDRO21818

• Permit No: M1999025
• IBM Index Class Name: Hydrology
• Doc Date: 12/31/2003
• Doc Name: Potential Impacts of Selenium in Discharges
• From: CDPHE
• To: DMG
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

JAN-05-04 15:45 FROM-Colorado Division of Minerals & Geoloay [phone] pp++ T-520 //P.t~0~aa06/007 F-326
~:' ~" 3.
STATE OF COLORADO
BIII Owens, Governor
DWglas H. Benevento, ExecuBve D'vectof
Dedicated m protecting and improving fha hearth and errviranmeM of the people of Colorado
4300 Cherry Leek Dr. S. Labofarory SeKces Division
Darner, Coloradc 80246.1590 8700 Lowry BNd.
Phone (9091 a92-2000 Denver, Colorado 80230.6928
Lacateud InlGlendale Colorado (909) ssz solo Dam ~ 12 _'31 "~3 ~ F,.e,lt
hnpJM~wW.cdphastate.co.ue
RECEI\/E® i o: oHrG
Grand Junction Pipe and Supply Compatry JAN 2 6 2004
Attention: lidwatd Setdt, PtojeetMaaager
P.O. Box 1849 Division of Minerals and Geology
Grand junction, Colorado 81502 / December 26, 2003
Re: Potential Impacts of Seleaimn inDischazgcs~fiom Selected Sand and Gravel Operations
oug the' nniaon and Colorado Rivers.
Dear Mr. Setth:

During the February, 2003 meeting of the Selenium Task Force, the US Fish and Wf7dlife Service verbally expressed concern
to the Water tZuality f;oatrol Division about a selenium coacemration of greater than 100 micrograms per liter (ug/1) im a
water sample it.eollected fitnn the disehazge of.a sand-and-gravel operation to the Gtmaison River neaz Delt$. This has
caused the Division to more closely examine the solaces of selenium to the Gumrison and Colorado Rivers, especially in
segtents identified as impaired far aelenitrnt under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Acr , ie. the total maximum dat7y load
(T'IvIDL) pmgram Same of these waters also serve as habitat for thmatened and endangered fishes. Ambient selenium
conceturatiaas is teaches of these rivers are believed to exceed dre applicable water-gttaliiy standard of 4.6 ngll, and the
Division recently proposed to our Commission that 9 additional segments of the l3urmison and Colorado Rivers be listed as
impaired for selmittm. Currendy, the 2002 version of this list has 8 segments of these rivers ]fisted as impaired on the basis of
selenium.
As part of the on-going efforts to develop information for use is permitting decisions involving discharges to these impaired
waters, the Division sampled 9, of the 25 pernutted, sand-and-gravel dischazges to the above segments and analyzed them for
selenium concentration. For this Tune, 2003 effort, samples were taken only at discharges with flow at the time of the field
visit. The recorded selenium values ranged from 2.6 to 54 ug/l, with seven discharges exhibiting values above the water-
quality standazd Table 1 provides the results for dischmges from your company's factgities.
Table 1. Selenitnn Concentration in Discharge Water

COG-500161 South Fruifr/Arcub Pit 6.9
COG-500534 So a Pit /' 37
yr -1~4q- o~s'/
In view of the results, the Division is eoacemed that the cuaent General Permit (COG-OSOOOOD) for disoharges from sand.
and-gavel operations may not be adequately protective. Thus, the Division is considering the development of a second
general permit for aggregate miniag/processing facilities to iufplemeat contro] of selenium in discharges to receiving waters
that ate impaired for selenium andfor designated as critical T&E fish habitat This effon world include designation of stream
segments to be within scope of flue new general permit and appropriate permit conditions to address sources of selann,m,
along with associated monitoring.
However, before the issuance of any new general pemut or the development of any other requirement, the Division will be
soliciting infoanatioa and Ideas from the ssmd-aadgavel opetators/owaets in affocted areas of the Lower Colorado River
Basin. We propose meeting with the affected companies and are asking Ms. Melissa Young (Regulatory Specialist for