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Discharge Monitoring Site 001 did not discharge during 2016. Water flow <br />to/from is managed by a system of pumps with a gravity flow discharge through <br />the primary if the water level exceeds the discharge elevation of the primary decant <br />spillway. No water was pumped to or withdrawn from pond 001. Evaporative losses <br />were tracked and reported to the Pueblo District of the Colorado Division of Water <br />Resources. These losses were compensated to the stream by water New Elk has under <br />lease from the Hill Ranch. <br />Discharge Monitoring of Site 004 (Pond 4) is no longer a requirement of the NPDES <br />permit. Throughout the year water levels were minimal and no discharges occurred. <br />Discharge Monitoring of Site 007 (Pond 7) held considerable water throughout most of <br />2016. Discharges were avoided by pumping water to temporary storage in Pond 006 and <br />by using pond water for surface dust control. Water levels were sufficiently reduced by <br />the end of the year to allow scheduling sediment cleanout in 2017. <br />Discharge Monitoring Site 008 (Pond 8) held considerable water through the first half <br />of 2016 and eventually experience short duration discharges in July and August of 2016. <br />These discharge samples had exceedances of monitoring parameters for total Iron and <br />Total Suspended Solids. Steps were taken to improve water quality: the flocculant <br />approved for use in the NPDES permit was applied to the pond water. A later discharge <br />showed no significant change in water quality; A water handling and treatment firm, <br />Rain -for -Rent was contracted to improve water quality by pumping pond water through a <br />series of 100 and 150 mesh filters again with no significant improvement in water <br />quality. <br />Further discharges were avoided by pumping pond 8 water to pond 6. This along with an <br />end to the monsoonal atmospheric moisture terminated discharges and started lowering <br />the water level in the pond. The goal is to dewater the pond and facilitate sediment <br />removal in 2017. <br />Discharge Monitoring Site 010 (An SAE south of Pond 7) showed no flow through the <br />monitoring flume and meter located just south of the road along the south side of Pond 7. <br />Thus no samples were collected. <br />RDA Monitoring Wells <br />Three monitoring wells, Th -201, TH-202 and TH-203, are located on the three lower <br />reclaimed benches of the mine's Refuse Disposal Area. These wells penetrate the <br />compacted refuse down to the contact with the basal bedrock of the disposal area. <br />