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Peabody Sage Creek Mine <br />SL -3 Phase III Bond Release Request <br />July 2014 <br />mg /1 increase. There are less July samples than there were June samples. This is due to the fact <br />that Fish Creek is monitored in July only if either Sites SSC10 (lower Cow Camp Creek) or SSB12 <br />(lower Bond Creek) are flowing. Sites SSC10 and SSB12 usually dry up in late summer although <br />the upstream Outfalls 004 and 008 flow continuously. This reduction in flow is due to stream <br />channel infiltration and evapotranspiration along the lower reaches of Bond Creek. Table 14 <br />indicates that the predicted TDS values in June and July of 497 and 607 mg /1 were occasionally <br />exceeded at Site SSF13. This is due to the baseline TDS values at Site SSF11 being higher than <br />expected. In any case, the observed TDS increases between the two sites were always less than <br />the predicted values. Also, the highest TDS value on Table 14, 680 mg /1, is still far less than <br />2,000 mg /1 crop tolerance level indicated above. Therefore, TDS increases on Fish Creek due to <br />the two mines will not cause any negative impact to crops in the area. <br />F) Agreement of observed hydrologic impacts with the "Probable Hydrologic <br />Consequences" (PHC) projected in the mining permit <br />The PSCM PHC makes no predictions for impacts in the Fish Creek basin. However, the <br />predictions discussed previously in Section E (A\/Ts) are still valid for PSCM. The observed TDS <br />values are below the predicted values. The PSCM permit addresses potential impacts to surface <br />water quality in the Grassy Creek basin on pages 2.05 -84 to 91 (Vol. 1A). A summary of those <br />impacts is presented on Table 2.05.6(3), page 2.05.89. This PHC focuses on impacts caused by <br />underground mine dewatering. As that scenario has not occurred yet, the PHC predictions are <br />not yet relevant. However, on page 2.05.88, it is stated "...Pond 002 is heavily affected by high - <br />TDS water from the Seneca II spoils aquifer, and averages nearly 4000 mg /1 ". In the past three <br />years (2011 - 2013), the average TDS at Pond 002 (NPDES2) was 3977 mg /1. Further downstream <br />at Site YSG5, the average TDS for the past three years was 2919 mg /1. The PHC makes no <br />predictions regarding the spoil springs themselves. <br />G) Completion of the Hydrologic Reclamation Plan <br />There are fifteen monitor wells associated within or adjacent to the area being requested in the <br />PSCM Phase III bond release area. There are four spoil wells above Pond 004: SSP62, 63, 64 and <br />65. Well SSP62 is sampled for water quality; only water level data is being collected at the other <br />33 <br />