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<br />S DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Dcpnrlmcnl ul N.iiural Rusuurtes <br />1 ; I { Sherman $I . Ruom 21 S <br />Denver, G,Inrada H11_'Ui <br />Phnnc 1 {U 11 NfiL~S56i <br />July 28, 1997 <br />Mr. Dennis Anderson <br />CDPHE-WQCD <br />4300 Cherry Creek Drive South <br />Denver, CO 80227-1530 <br />RE: Request for assistance evaluating potential groundwater discharge, WestemMobile, <br />Fountain Pit, Petmit M-81-307 <br />Deaz Dennis, <br />II~ <br />DEPARTMEM OF <br />NATURAL <br />RESOURCES <br />Roy Romer <br />Governor <br />tames 5. Lachhead <br />Executive Director <br />Michael B Long <br />Division Director <br />The Division of minerals and Geology has received a request from Western Mobile Corp in <br />Colorado Springs to use waste water from the city of Colorado Springs, Nixon Power Plant, for <br />gravel washing. Currently, the gravel mine purchases water for gravel washing from the city of <br />Fountain, while the power plant disposed of its waste water through evaporation and, I think, _ <br />sludge disposal. As the waste water could be used by the gravel operation at low or no cost, the <br />benefit to both facilities is evident. <br />An analysis of the waste water (attached) shows high concentrations of chloride, sulfate and <br />fluoride relative to surface water table value standazds. Also, the water treatment process <br />employs chemicals that, according to the MSDS sheets, may be toxic to humans. The latter point <br />would be an issue to be addressed under this Division's groundwater authority at active mine <br />sites in the state. <br />At present, the gravel operation recycles their wash water through a series of ponds that settle <br />solids and clarify the solution; some water is lost to evaporation. If the power plant water was <br />used instead of drinking water, there is a chance that insoluble residues would leave the site on <br />the gravel - though I doubt this would be a significant concern -and some could possibly <br />discharge to groundwater. The recycling ponds are not currently lined. Both facilities aze zero <br />discharge facilities because nothing is dischazged to surface water, and [anticipate that will <br />remain the case. <br />I am not familiar with two of the chemicals, CuproSTAT and PCL-716, so would request <br />assistance from you in assessing their potential impacts on groundwater. If it is appropriate to <br />have the attached information evaluated by someone in Toxicology, in that regazd, I have already <br />discussed this matter with Dr. Diane Niedzwiecki. We presume that local groundwater is used <br />for domestic purposes, which should be the highest use. However, we are in the process of <br />III IIIIIIIIIIIII III <br />999 <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />