HomeMy WebLinkAbout830966.tiff ROUND WATER NEWS
Colorado Water Congress • 1390 Logan St., Rm. 312 • Denver, Colorado 80203• Phone: (303) 837-0812
Ground Water News Contributing Editor, Jerry W. Raisch* April 27, 1983
A significant meeting of the Colorado Department of Health Ad Hoc Ground Water
Quality Advisory Committee was held on March 29, 1983. The purpose of this meeting
was to discuss a paper which is intended to serve as a discussion document for a
number of proposed statewide public meetings concerning ground water in June of 1983
(see attached schedule of meetings). The purposes of these proposed meetings are to
determine:
1. What should the purpose and direction of the State's ground water quality
protection efforts be? How much degradation of existing ground water
quality should be allowed?
2. What kinds of actual ground water quality problems do exist in various
parts of the state?
3. What regulatory approach should the Water Quality Control Commission utilize
to assure protection of ground water quality?
The paper which was discussed is relevant in that it represents the most current
thoughts of the Department of Health concerning ground water protection.
The following is a brief outline summary of the document:
I. BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN PREVENTING GROUND WATER
CONTAMINATION
Although ground water quality problems are not prevalent in Colorado, the
preservation of ground water quality is important because ground water is
an important state resource.
II. EXAMPLES OF GROUND WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS IN COLORADO THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED
AS SUCH BY THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
A. Solid and Hazardous Waste Disposal
1. Rocky Mountain Arsenal
2. Lowry Landfill ft 3. Marshall Landfill C CIS ,
4. Devil 's Triangle N".;'S
5. Woodbury Chemical -.�.
6. Inactive/abandoned sites
A 1993
B. Liquid Waste Disposal ammentatt
atm
1. Pits, ponds and lagoons
2. Oil and gas brine waste disposal
*Mr. Raisch is the Colorado Water Congress representative on the Ad Hoc Ground Water
Quality Advisory Committee. 830966
GROUND WATER NEWS -2- April 27, 1983
C. Mining Waste Disposal
1. Union Carbide - Uravan
2. New Jersey Zinc
3. Idarado Mine
4. Cotter Corporation (Canon City)
D. Other Sources of Ground Water Quality Problems
1. Naturally occurring uranium and selenium
2. Increased nitrate levels due to municipal wastewater disposal
3. Increased nitrates in chemicals due to agricultural practices
4. Localized increases of pollutants from urban runoff
III. DEVELOPMENT AND FORMALIZATION OF A COMMON STATE DIRECTION FOR GROUND
WATER QUALITY PROTECTION PROGRAMS
A. A common direction needs to be formulated before the Colorado Health
Department and Water Quality Control Commission promulgate a regulatory
program implementing ground water quality protection.
B. Alternatives for Establishment of a Common Direction
1. Maintain existing uses.
2. Maintain existing and potential future uses.
3. Maintain existing quality (nondegradation).
4. Nondegradation for certain Pollutants
5. Limited degradation of existing quality on a case-specific basis.
6. Formulate flexible framework to achieve diverse purposes (utilizing
alternative approaches for different geologic conditions or geographic
areas) .
7. Continue with status quo.
IV. SUMMARY OF LIMITATIONS TO STATE AUTHORITY FOR GROUND WATER QUALITY PROTECTION
A. Statutory Limitations
•
Five specific statutory limitations were noted.
B. Regulatory Needs
1. "The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission needs to promulgate a
comprehensive ground water quality regulatory program which will serve
as a basis for all agencies' regulatory activities which can impact
ground water quality. "
2. Ground water discharge permit regulations.
3. Underground disposal of radioactive wastes regulations.
4. Establishment of water quality standards for organic chemicals.
5. Oil and gas brine waste disposal regulations (the Water Quality Control
Commission has established a May 10, 1983 informational hearing concerning
oil and gas brine waste disposal ).
GROUND WATER NEWS -4- April 27, 1983
La Junta: June 27, 1983, 7:00 p.m.
City Council Chambers, Municipal Bldg.
601 Colorado Ave. , La Junta, CO
Glenwood Springs: June 29, 1983, 7:00 p.m.
Senior Center, Community Education
Bldg. , Colorado Mountain College
1402 Blake, Glenwood Springs, CO
Grand Junction: June 30, 1983, 7:00 p.m.
North Friendship Room, Valley Federal
Savings, Valley Federal Plaza
5th and Rood , Grand Junction, CO
CDH Recommendations on a "Common August 1983
Direction" and a regulatory approach
for ground water quality protection
programs.
WQCC Consideration, Deliberations and Fall , 1983
Endorsement of a "Common Direction" for
protecting ground water quality and
preliminary selection of the compre-
hensive ground water regulatory
approach to be utilized.
State endorsement of a "Common Fall, 1983
Direction" for protecing ground
water quality.
WQCC proposed ground water regulatory December, 1983
program ("Basic Standards" or Separate
Regulation).
/ WQCC hearings on proposed ground Winter, 1983-1984
water regulatory program.
WQCC consideration and action on a Spring, 1984
basic regulatory program.
WQCC hearings commenced on specific Summer, 1984
ground water basins if classifications/
standards approach is utilized.
Comments on this issue of Ground Water News should be address to Jerry W. Raisch,
P.O. Box 871, Boulder, CO 80306 (phone: 303/443-6151).
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