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<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