2016-02-03_PERMIT FILE - C1981038 (2)

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§2.04 APPLICATION FOR PERMIT FOR SIIRFACE OR UNDERGROUND MINING ACTIVITIES -- MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR INFORMATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES. • 2.04.7 Rydrology Description. (2) Surface Water Information. (a) and (b) (Cont'd,) "The creation of four sediment retention ponds -below the mine site should control iron-rich sediments from entering the North Fork except during storms greater than 10 year/24-hour events. "A similar pattern was found in the North Fork. During some high run-off periods concentrations of total iron in the North Fork may exceed standards by approximately 70-fold. This occurred once during the spring and sum- mer sampling. However, at this time the control sta- tion (NF-1 a) concentration was approximately 50 times Federal standards, indicating most of the iron origi- nated upstream of the study area. "'There was some indication that iron concentrations may increase within the North Fork study area as shown by the high value. • "However, there is no consistent pattern identifying any particular area as the source. These few high val- ues may be related to "slugs" of water that originate upstream and pass through the study area. "Data from the past two years show that existing OSM and CPILRD standards for iron can be exceeded in water originating upstream of any mine or coal loadout area related to the Orchard Valley Mine. Similarly, levels of aluminum higher than proposed State standards have been shown to originate upstream of the North Fork con- trol area." The anomalous rises in iron and aluminum concentrations in the North Fork are no[ tied to present mining opera- tions at the Orchard Valley Mine. There is no indica- tion that future mining will increase the iron or alinn- inum concentrations in the North Fork River. (b) (i) Minimum, maximum, and average flow data iden- tifying seasonal variations of Low flow and peak discharge rates are presented in . Revised 12/26/84 Revised 10/01/87 54