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October 2012 Page 1 -4 <br />hydrologic regime of the area. One aspect of the CDPHE program addresses water quality as <br />required by the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System ( NPDES) permit program. <br />These stations are shown on Map 8, Regional Hydrology, in the permit document and quarterly <br />NPDES reports have been submitted to both CDPHE and DRMS as they were prepared and are <br />included herein by reference. <br />The DRMS monitoring program at the New Elk Mine consists of surface water sites, <br />ponds and alluvial wells, as presented in Table 1 -1, Hydrology Monitoring Requirements for <br />New Elk Mine, and Table 1 -2, Water Quality Parameter Sample Suites for New Elk Mine. In <br />addition, special monitoring programs were continued during the year. These include <br />piezometers in the Refuse Disposal Area which monitor slope stability, and water levels <br />monitored in the new Elk Mine underground workings. This program was modified during 1999 <br />to monitor only those stations of interest and in 2004 to reduce the frequency of sampling events <br />due to limited scope of operations at the coal processing facility. Monitoring of springs and <br />seeps in the area of the New Elk Mine was also conducted until liability release for underground <br />workings was approved by DRMS. <br />The following are descriptions of the current sampling stations, their location and their <br />purpose. <br />1.2.1 Surface Water (Streams and Rivers) <br />PRS -1: A grab sample and flow station located on the Middle Fork of the Purgatoire <br />River above the surface facilities of the New Elk Mine. This station was selected to assess <br />stream quality and flow above significant mining activities. Data collected during the year at this <br />Station are presented in Appendix B, Table B -1 . <br />PRS -4: A grab sample and flow station located on the Purgatoire River below the New <br />Elk Mine surface facilities. This station was established in 1992 to assess potential effects of <br />mining on stream quality. Data collected at this station during the year are presented in <br />Appendix B, Table B -2. <br />1. 2.2 Springs and Seeps <br />The spring and seep monitoring program sampled flow and water chemistry on springs <br />within a one -mile radius of the underground workings to ensure that geohydrologic changes <br />associated with the mine do not diminish the water quantity or quality of springs. Four springs <br />were monitored (Appendix C). Monitoring was terminated after release of liability for areas of <br />underground mining. <br />