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Peabody Sage Creek Mine <br />SL -3 Phase III Bond Release Request <br />July 2014 <br />Three of the CWQCC surface water agricultural use standards were exceeded. The manganese <br />standard, 0.2 mg /1, was exceeded at Spoil Springs 2 and 6. However, as indicated in the recently <br />revised CWQCC Regulation 31, the standard of 0.2 mg /1 applies to plants grown in acidic ( <6.0 <br />pH) soils. In alkaline soils, as are found in the PSCM region, a more appropriate (EPA, 1976) <br />standard would be 10 mg /1. The maximum manganese value for Spoil Spring 2 was 2.37 mg /1. <br />The maximum manganese value at Spoil Spring 6 was 13.1 mg /1; however the mean value was <br />8.28 mg /1. The maximum value was only exceeded once in 2011, and the three values observed <br />in 2013 were all less than 10 mg /1. Spoil Spring 6A is located downstream of Spoil Spring 6 at a <br />haul road culvert. The manganese value at this spring, collected the same day the 2011 Spoil <br />Spring 6 sample was collected, was only 0.031 mg /1. <br />Spoil Spring 6 also exceeded the cadmium (10 ug /1) and nickel (200 ug /1) agricultural standards <br />with values of 14.7 and 350 ug /1, respectively. Although the CWQCC does not distinguish <br />between livestock and irrigation uses in their Reg. 31 surface water agricultural standards, they <br />have done so in their similar Reg. 41 ground water agricultural standards. The cadmium and <br />nickel surface water standards are indicated in Reg. 41 to be irrigation standards. There is no <br />irrigation being practiced in the Spoil Spring 6 vicinity. The CWQCC does not have livestock <br />water standards for cadmium and nickel. The University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary <br />Medicine compiled a list of livestock water quality standards: <br />https: / /www.vetmed.wisc.edu /dms /fapm /fapmtools /2nutr /Water- Ouality- Recommendations- <br />Oetzel- 080104.pdf The `Summary Recommendations' standards for cadmium and nickel are 50 <br />and 1000 ug /1, respectively. The water at Spoil Spring 6 is below those limits. <br />On September 12, 2012 the CDPHE issued Notice of Violation #I0- 120912 -1 to the PSCM for <br />selenium excursions of the selenium effluent limits in PSCM's CDPS discharge permit (CO- <br />0048275) in 2011 and 2012 that occurred at Outfalls 002 and 004. PSCM is working with the <br />CDPHE to resolve this issue. Long Term measures proposed to the CDPHE to remedy the <br />situation include (but are not limited to): developing seasonal effluent limits for selenium during <br />renewal of the CDPS Permit; and using downstream wetlands as a treatment method. PSCM <br />performed an extensive synoptic water quality sampling study and aquatic life surveys in 2013 at <br />existing and temporary surface water monitoring sites along Grassy Creek, Cow Camp Creek and <br />30 <br />