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and the last valve set) is about 515 psi. At this pressure, the water level in the Northwest Mains <br />Ventilation Shaft accumulator pipe is at about elevation 6,369 feet, or approximately 281 feet below <br />ground surface. <br />Responding directly to Parrs 3 and 4 of the NOV, given the pressure associated with a column of air <br />in the accumulator pipe, coupled with the head necessary to raise water approximately 300 feet, an <br />increase in water system pressure of roughly 160 psi would be necessary for mine water to discharge <br />from the accumulator pipe. This pressure variance is outside of the maxuntun design operating limits <br />for system pressure, as controlled bythe Roll-Seals. So long as one or both Roll-Seals are functioning <br />properly, TCC would have no reason to anticipate that production water discharge from the <br />accumulator pipe would ever occur. It is important to note that the dual Roll-Seal system is designed <br />to provide back up pressure relief capabilities in the event a set of Roll-Seals fails. The unanncipated <br />production mine water discharge experience on May 2/3 resulted from simultaneous or successive <br />failure of both sets of Roll-Seals. Since discharge from the accumulator pipe was not reasonably <br />anticipated, TCC did not plan for or pemut discharge, and did not provide documentation relative to <br />water quality and companbiliry with effluent limitations. <br />The unanticipated production mine water discharge resulted from a catastrophic failure of both sets <br />of Roll-Seals and a consequent uncontrolled increase in system pressure. In order to prevent this <br />from occurring again, TCC has installed new Roll-Seals and is working with the manufacturer to <br />determine why they failed and how to prevent or effectively address the potential for any future <br />failures. <br />2) Responding directly to Part 1 of the NOV, TCC submits that the NW Mains Ventilation Fan facility <br />SAE is properly designed, and has been constructed and maintained consistent with the approved <br />regulatory design basrs, ie: use of an approved surface runoff modeling program (SEDCAD) for a <br />suitable design storm event (10-year, 24hour). The designed soil containment berms, soil runoff <br />collection ditches, gravel filter, rock check dam, and vegetative filter were established during the early <br />stages of site construction in late 2001 and early 2002. Since that time, they have functioned as <br />designed to effectively control drainage and sediment from the site. <br />Flooding of the low area on the south side of the access road, as noted during the inspection and <br />addressed by the NOV, was directly related to the unanticipated and unforeseen production mine <br />water discharge, and would not have occurred under the normal stormwater runoff conditions for <br />which the SAE was designed. <br />Given that; 1) The existing SAE treatment structures are properly designed to meet all applicable <br />regulatory requirements and have functioned effectively to address nom~al site drainage and sediment <br />control requirements; and 2) The production mine water discharge experienced on May 2/3 was <br />unanticipated and the potential for any future production mine water discharge has been eliminated <br />by placing a valve on the vent pipe; TCC submits that the SAE is properly designed and respectfully <br />requests that Part 1 of the NOV be vacated <br />3) A grab sample of standing water resulting from the unanticipated production mine water discharge <br />was collected, and full-state water quality analysis was completed to compare with applicable mine <br />water effluent standards for Fish Creek Water quality analysis results for this sample are comparable <br />to full-suite analysis results for previous mine water discharges from the 10-North Mains and Fish <br />Creek Borehole CPDS discharge locations and do not exceed applicable effluent standards (water <br />quality analysis results attached for reference). Given this consideration, the mine water treatment <br />requirements under Rule 4.05.2(8) are not applicable, and consistent with the provisions of Rule <br />NOV CV-2005-006 3 6/3/2005 <br />