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<br />35 <br /> <br />1. The West Elk Mine has three access roads which are considered access roads <br />only. These include the Sylvester Gulch Substation Access Road, the Portal <br />access road, and the Materials Storage Bench access road, which are shown on <br />Map 53 and 53B. Access roads are properly certified. These certifications are <br />provided in Exhibit 8A of the permit document. A discussion of the access <br />roads can be found in Section 2.05.3 in Volume 1 of the permit document. <br />The designs are in compliance with Rules 2.05.3 and 4.03.2. <br /> <br />2. All of these roads will be reclaimed upon closure of the mine when the roads <br />are no longer necessary. <br /> <br />C. Light Use Roads <br /> <br />1. The West Elk Mine has numerous light-use roads at the site, within and above <br />the facilities area and on Jumbo Mountain to access monitoring sites and the <br />water tank, the Lone Pine Gulch fan road and roads to the south for MVB <br />pads and the “thermal event area.” The designs, except for some preexisting <br />roads, are in compliance with Rules 2.05.3 and 4.03.3. <br /> <br />II. Support Facilities - Rule 4.04 <br /> <br />A. Construction of support facilities did not result in any damage to any protected <br />structures. Therefore, the Division proposes to approve those activities [4.04(6)]. <br /> <br />III. Hydrologic Balance - Rule 4.05 <br /> <br />A. Water Quality Standards and Effluent Limitations <br /> <br />1. There are six sediment ponds at the West Elk Mine that treat drainage from the <br />disturbed area. These ponds function as designed to ensure compliance with <br />the water quality standards and effluent standards specified in CDPS Permit <br />No. CO-0038776. <br /> <br />2. Underground mine water has been pumped to the ground surface, passed <br />through a polishing pond, and then discharged into Sylvester Gulch at CDPS <br />outfall 017. As of October 8, 2008, Colorado Water Quality Control Division <br />is reviewing past exceedances of discharge limitations for iron (potentially <br />dissolved and total recoverable) at outfall 017. MCC has ceased mine water <br />pumping at Outfall 017 and is investigating potential corrective measures to <br />ensure future discharges at Outfall 017 comply with effluent limitations <br />specified in CDPS Permit No. CO-0038776. <br />