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Fire Mountain Canal <br />Concerns <br />• Loss of water quality and National Pollutant Dischazge Elimination System (NPDES) <br />related exceptions for our water due to contamination from Mine-related discharges. <br />• Damage to the Canal and subsequent loss of the Canal due to additional inflows into the <br />Canal caused by the design, construction, and operation of the Mine's drainage and <br />storm water control systems. <br />Recommendations <br />• Ensure that Mine-related dischazges do not end up in the Canal. See additional <br />recommendations below. <br />• Ensure that Mine-related drainage facilities and their operation do not cause damage to <br />the Canal that could result in its failure. See additional recommendations below. <br />Pond F: <br />Concerns <br />• Contrazy to design, a permanent controlled dischazge line from Pond F was not installed <br />during construction. Also, as designed, the discharge pipe would have discharged <br />directly into the Canal (which is unacceptable) instead of into the Deer Trail Ditch as <br />shown in the discharge permit. Instead, the Mine is proposing to pump water from this <br />pond to the draw just west of the pond. <br />• As currently situated, emergency spills in excess of the available capacity of the Deer <br />Trail Ditch will end up almost immediately in the Canal. This is unacceptable. The <br />placement of Pond F and the routing of flows to Pond F from the drainages that are <br />being blocked by the coal wash station spoil effectively bypass a 4-foot diameter cross <br />drainage culvert for those drainages under our Canal. <br />• Pond F is directly above a portion of the Canal in an azea of steep slopes. Our Canal <br />was lined in this area to reduce seepage and the potential for loss of the Canal. The <br />unlined pond has the potential to increase seepage in that azea which in turn will <br />increase the possibility of Canal failure. <br />Recommendations <br />• Install a permanent controlled dischazge line or permanent pump that dischazges to the <br />draw at the west end of Pond F (outfall 006) rather than using a temporary pump or <br />discharging to Deer Trail Ditch. This would take advantage of the existing culvert under <br />the Canal for this draw. <br />• Relocate the emergency spillway to the west end of the pond so that all spills also go to <br />the draw at the west end of the pond. This would also take advantage of the existing <br />culvert under the Canal for this draw. <br />• Ensure that the culvert for this draw under the highway is cleaned and maintained so its <br />full capacity is available. <br />• Consider lining Pond F to prevent seepage that might adversely affect the Canal and <br />property downhill of the Canal. <br />