Code of Colorado Regulations
1000 - Department of Public Health and Environment
1002 - Water Quality Control Commission (1002 Series)
5 CCR 1002-38 - REGULATION NO. 38 - CLASSIFICATIONS AND NUMERIC STANDARDS SOUTH PLATTE RIVER BASIN LARAMIE RIVER BASIN REPUBLICAN RIVER BASIN SMOKY HILL RIVER BASIN
Section 5 CCR 1002-38.37 - STATEMENT OF BASIS, SPECIFIC STATUTORY AUTHORITY, AND PURPOSE; NOVEMBER 2, 1992

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 17, September 10, 2024

The provisions of 25-8-202, 25-8-204, 25-8-207 and 25-8-402 C.R.S., provide the specific statutory authority for adoption of these regulatory amendments. The Commission also adopted, in compliance with 25-4-103(4) C.R.S., the following statement of basis and purpose.

BASIS AND PURPOSE

Segment 5, West Clear Creek:

The cadmium value of 2.9 ug/l for the temporary modifications is based on the Division's proposal at the hearing. The manganese equation for the temporary modifications is based on the Climax hearing proposal which was based on toxicity tests using fathead minnows and ceriodaphnia dubia at four different hardness levels. The Radium 226 and 228 value of 10 piC/L (total recoverable) is based on a stipulation between the parties. It is to be measured at U-1 which is 0.3 miles downstream of the confluence of the West Fork of Clear Creek with Woods Creek, with a 60 day delay in reporting results in the discharge monitoring reports. The Commission has adopted this temporary modification in view of the uncertainty of the existing radium standard (e.g., the EPA has proposed a MCL of 20 piC/L each for radium 226 and radium 228 and the commission has scheduled a hearing in February 1994 to consider the statewide radionuclide standards) and because of the significant cost to Climax to meet the existing statewide radium standard. The Commission evaluated the standards for radium 226 of 21 piC/L and radium 228 of 6 piC/L proposed by Climax and considered the potential use of those standards in clean up actions. The Commission believes that further consideration should be given to the standards proposed by Climax in the statewide radionuclide hearing. The chronic zinc value for the temporary modifications is based on the Climax hearing proposal which was based on the recalculation method. The standards and temporary modifications agreed to herein will go into effect on July 9, 1993. The temporary modifications will expire, unless otherwise extended, on July 8, 1996. On July 8, 1996 unless the Commission has promulgated site-specific standards, the acute table value standard for zinc and the statewide standard for radium will be effective.

Segment 7, Woods Creek:

The site-specific criteria based standards for metals adopted for Segment 7 are based on a flow-dependent equation used by the Water Quality Control Division in the Urad and Henderson permits which incorporate the ambient concentration of metals in Segment 5, the acute and chronic flows for Segments 5 and 7, and the water quality standards or temporary modifications applicable in Segment 5. The equation and a description of its components are as follows:

WQSwc = ((Qwc + Qwfcc) X WQSwfcc - (Qwfcc X Cwfcc)) /Qwc

WQSwc = Water Quality Standards for Woods Creek

Qwc = Flow for Woods Creek

Qwfcc = Flow for West Fork Clear Creek

QSwfcc = Water Quality Standards for West Fork Clear Creek

Cwfcc = Ambient Concentration in West Fork Clear Creek

The temporary modifications adopted by the Commission will lock in water quality improvements made by Climax to date, thus maintaining at least the status quo stream water quality, will ensure continued progress toward long-term improvements (the Commission recognizes that Climax is in the process of installing a water treatment plant at the Urad site which will be operational by July 1, 1993) and will provide further opportunity for the establishment of site-specific water quality standards. During the next three years, Climax will continue to monitor ambient chemical quality on Segments 5 and 7 and the aquatic community on Segment 5. In addition Climax will participate in the Clear Creek Watershed Initiative as well as the parties to this rulemaking with the objective of determining whether site-specific standards are appropriate. Methods used to develop site-specific standards shall be established with the participation of the Water Quality Control Division and the parties and shall consider designated downstream uses.

PARTIES TO THE NOVEMBER 2, 1992 RULEMAKING HEARING