HYDRO28217

• Permit No: M1977020
• 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 8 Geology [phone] T-520 P.004/DO7 F-3Z6
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STATE OF COLORADO
Bill Owens, Govomor
Douglas K Benevento, Executive Director
p~cated to protecting and improving the health and envlranment of the people of Colorado
4300 Cherry Creek Or. S. Laboratory Services D'Nlslon
Denier, Colorado 80246.1530 8100 Lowry BNd.
Phone (903) 692x000 Denier, Colorado 80230.6926
TDD Una (803) 697T/00 [phone]
Located in Glendale, Colorado '
hap!/www.edphe.stete.rx>.us (2 - 31'©3 v
United CompaniesoflvJesaCatrmy RECE?~, '
Attention: Richard Johnson, Restmsce Manager
P.O. Box 3609 ~AN 2 6 Z~O1F
Grand Junction, Colorado S15D2
Division of Minerals aa:.;,,,
Re: ~oteatial Impacts of Selenium in Discharge from Selected Saud and Gravel Operations
Along the Gtmaisoa and Colorado Rivas.
Deaz Mr. Johnson:
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December 26, 2003
Dutiag the Februazy, 2003 meeting of rite Selenium Task Force, the US Fish and Wildlife Service verbally expressed concern
m the Water Qusliry Control Divtstoa about a selenium concentration of Beater than 100 micrograms per liter (ttgAj is a
water sample fi collected from the dlschuge of asand-and-gavel operation fay the Gunnison River near Delta. This has
caused the Division to more closely a*~++++++e the sources of selenium to the Gumvsoa and Colorado Rivers, especially in
segments identified as iarparred for seleairrm under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act , ie. the total ~LAT~TT++r+ daily load
(TMDL) program. Some of these waters also serve as habitat foz threatened and endangered fishes. Ambient selenium
concentrations is reaches of these rivets are believed to exceed the applicable watu-quality standard of 4'.6 ng/!, and the
Division recently proposed to our Commission that 9 additioual segments of the Gtmnison'aad Colorado Rivers be listed as
iatpaized for selenium Cusently, the 2002 version of this list has 8 segments of these rivers listed as impaired on the basis of
selenium.
As part of the on-going e&'orts m develop information far use in permitting decisions involving discharges to these impaired
waters, the Division sampled 9 of the 25 petrtrimd, sated-and•gavel discharges m the above segments and analyzed them far
selenium coacenaatioa. For this June, 2003 efforq samples were Taken only at discharges with flow aY the time of the field
visit The recorded selenium values ranged firm 2.6 to 54 ug/I, with seven discharges exlubitiug values above the water-
quality standard Table 1 provides the results for discharges from your company's facilities.
Table 1. Selenium CoaceatsarionialHscharge Water

COG500397 bell Pit 4.3
COG-500400 4D Pit 8.3
CAG500136 DS&G Pit#1lr 15~
16'
COG-500216 Figgie Pit
Railhead Pat 39
54
COG500218 Frtuta Gravel Pit 2.6
^` Duplicate samples collected and considered as as average of 15.5 ug/1
~t -197?-o2c9
In view of the results, the Division is concerned that the current General Permit (COG-0500000) foz discharges from sand-
and-gravel opetatiens may not be.adequarely protective. Thus, the Division is considerigg the development of a second
general permit for aggregate trrining/processing facilities to implement conaol of selenium in discharges to teceiviag waters
that era impaired fos selenium and/or desigasind as eatical T&E fish habitat ?his effort weuld include desigaafloa of stream
scgneats m be vvithia scope of this new general pemsst aa3 appropriate permit conditions m address sources of selenium,