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Peabody Sage Creek Mine <br />SL -3 Phase III Bond Release Request <br />July 2014 <br />tributaries associated with both drainages. The sampling and surveys were conducted over three <br />seasons during 2013 to help identify the sources and fate of selenium. Data collected and <br />findings related to these efforts were submitted to the Colorado Water Quality Control Division <br />in late February 2014. <br />The CDPS and CDRMS sample data from PSCM from 2011 through 2013 support a finding that <br />the mine is not causing exceedances of the instream standards. As indicated above, the receiving <br />streams (Fish Creek at Site SSF13 and Grassy Creek at Site SSG2) are in attainment of the <br />selenium standard (85`h percentile of data for the last five years). <br />C) Permit Requirements of the Colorado Discharge Permit System (CDPS) <br />PSCM maintains two outfalls in the areas being requested for this Phase III bond release: Ponds <br />002 (NPDES2) and 004 (NPDES4), which are monitored under the CPDS Permit No. CO- <br />0048275. Parameters monitored are provided in Tables 6 and 9 for those outfalls. Sample <br />analysis has included testing for Whole Effluent Toxicity at NPDES2 (WET testing is no longer <br />required at NPDES4). Sample data has been reported quarterly in discharge monitoring reports <br />(DMRs) filed with the CDPHE and the CDRMS. These DMRs indicate that no exceedances of <br />permit limits (with the exception of selenium, previously discussed) have occurred in the past <br />three years. However, one recent (1/8/2014) sample from NPDES4 had a TR iron value of 1.55 <br />mg /1. The limit in the CPDS permit is 1 mg /1. The 1.55 value is an anomaly; NPDES4 has <br />exceeded this standard only once since monitoring for TR iron began in 1987 (4/7/2005 with a <br />value of 1.47). The 2/13/14 sample had a TR value of 0.11 mg /1. <br />D) Clean Water Act Effluent Limitations (40 CFR Part 434) <br />Monitoring data for the past three years provided in Tables 6 and 9 indicate the mine has not <br />caused exceedances of either limitation identified in 40 CFR Part 434 that is applicable to <br />reclamation areas on coal mines (settleable solids (STS) of 0.5 ml /1 and pH of 6.0 to 9.0). PSCM <br />records STS values that it measures monthly for these outfalls and documented in the field <br />notebook. Only values that are at or above the detection limit, 0.4 ml /1, are entered in to PSCM's <br />water quality database. The absence of those values on Tables 6 and 9 indicates that no samples <br />were measured at or above the detection limit. <br />31 <br />