<br />2.05-74 Rev. 11/96- PR07; 04/06-PR10; 12/14- TR136, 04/24 – TR153
<br />not located during the Jumbo Mountain field investigations, but was found to again be flowing in
<br />1994, and monitoring was resumed. Fourteen springs and/or ponds identified on the Jumbo
<br />Mountain tract (Map 34) were monitored for baseline data and were monitored during and after
<br />mining in this area. Spring G-29 was found, but the spring no longer exists (i.e., no flow), and was
<br />not added to the monitoring program. In 1999, the number of springs monitored in this area were
<br />reduced to only those springs located above the North Jumbo Mains, where mining impacts could
<br />still occur.
<br />
<br />Seasonal measurements (three times per year to correspond to the start of spring runoff, the peak
<br />spring runoff, and the fall low flow) will be taken of spring flow, pH, conductivity, and temperature.
<br /> For springs with less than five years of monitoring data, annually, during the second sampling
<br />period, springs will be monitored for laboratory analyses of total dissolved solids (TDS), total
<br />suspended solids (TSS), calcium, magnesium, sodium, SAR, hardness, bicarbonate, chloride,
<br />nitrate/nitrite, phosphate (PO2-3 as P), sulfate, iron (total and dissolved), manganese (total and
<br />dissolved), aluminum (dissolved), arsenic (total recoverable), cadmium, copper, lead, mercury (total
<br />recoverable), molybdenum, selenium (total recoverable), boron and zinc. All parameters will be
<br />analyzed for their dissolved form unless stated otherwise. Once five years of data have been
<br />accumulated the annual laboratory analysis will only include TDS, TSS, pH, conductivity and iron
<br />(dissolved and total). A seasonal, rather than quarterly or semi-annual spring flow and water quality
<br />monitoring schedule was instituted for a variety of reasons. The primary reason for selecting
<br />seasonal sampling is that, in the case of spring flows, these are the only periods of measurable flow.
<br />Most of the springs are ephemeral or intermittent at best, except in the wettest years. The spring
<br />flow baseline data, summarized graphically in the Annual Hydrology Report, clearly indicate that
<br />there is no reason to attempt to sample these locations during winter. The adverse conditions
<br />encountered in the remote areas of the West Elk Mine lease area severely hamper sampling
<br />procedures and influence the collection of meaningful data. As a result, by restricting sampling to
<br />the periods of flow and insuring sample integrity, Mountain Coal Company will be able to provide
<br />meaningful data to the agency while reducing the costs associated with collecting unnecessary or
<br />data that is not meaningful.
<br />
<br /> Ground Water Monitoring
<br />
<br />In 1974, Mountain Coal Company began a groundwater monitoring program that incorporated
<br />monthly, quarterly and semi-annual monitoring of groundwater levels and/or water quality. Map 34
<br />shows the distribution of monitored wells. Annual hydrology reports contain water quality and
<br />quantity data from the wells. Section 2.04.7 provides a detailed review of the history and
<br />development of groundwater monitoring activities at the West Elk Mine.
<br />
<br />It is estimated that it might be some time before secondary recovery mining will take place south of
<br />the Minnesota Creek watershed divide. As a result, there is no need to operate and maintain a lease-
<br />wide groundwater monitoring network until mining advances to a point where a specific well might
<br />be impacted. Rather, monitoring of groundwater beyond the five-year permit area and adjacent area
<br />have been discontinued until the summer before mining impacts can be expected, at which time
<br />monitoring of the groundwater wells will be resumed. Monitoring will continue, on a seasonal basis
<br />(three times per year to correspond to the start of spring runoff, the peak spring runoff, and the fall
<br />low flow), for the wells listed in Table 5 in Section 2.04.7. Although no data was obtained from
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