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<br /> <br />YI. Surface Water Hydrology - <br />Ru es 2.05.3(4), 2.05.6(3) and 4.05 <br />Information on the surface water hydrology can be found in Tab 7, Hydrology, <br />Exhibits 7-1, 7-6, and 7-8 through 7-13 B, and Appendices 7-5, 7-6, 7-8, 7-9, <br />and 7-10. <br />Surface water at the Seneca II-W Mine lies within two watersheds. The entire <br />affected area lies within the Dry Creek Drainage and is drained by Hubberson <br />Gulch and an unnamed tributary to Dry Creek. A small portion of the southeast <br />permit area drains to Sage Creek. Both creeks empty into the Yampa River near <br />Hayden. Both Dry Creek and Sage Creek exhibit intermittent flows influenced <br />by springs located within and adjacent to the permit boundary. <br />Peabody Coal Company currently monitors one site on Hubberson Gulch downstream <br />of mining disturbance in conjunction with the U.S. Geological Survey. This <br />site is equipped with a continuous recorder and periodic water quality samples <br />are obtained. Water is of a calcium-magnesium sulfate type and is of poor <br />quality, suitable for livestock watering and irrigation of salt-tolerant crops <br />grown in well drained soils. <br />Peabody monitors three sites for water quality in the Sage Creek drainage. <br />Two sites are on unnamed tributaries to the main Sage Creek channel while the <br />third is downstream on Sage Creek. Water quality at these sites is <br />calcium-bicarbonate. It is suitable for livestock and irrigation, however, <br />except for the main Sage Creek site, there is not sufficient flow to sustain <br />irrigation. <br />Peabody Coal Company has installed a sediment control system to divert, convey <br />and/or treat surface water runoff in and around the mine site. A complete <br />discussion of this system is contained in Section XXI, "Ponds, Impoundments, <br />Diversions". <br />The permit application contains provisions for ongoing surface water <br />monitoring. All current sites will be monitored monthly for discharge and <br />water quality. <br />The water quality monitoring is shown in Table 7-77. In addition, as part of <br />Peabody's NPDES permit for Pond 006, pond discharges are monitored weekly for <br />flow, oil and grease, total suspended solids and pH; monthly for total iron <br />and quarterly for salinity (electrical conductivity or total dissolved solids). <br />A complete description of surface water occurrence, surface water monitoring <br />and mining impacts on surface water within the permit and adjacent areas can <br />be found in Section IX, "Assessment of Probable Hydrologic Consequences. of <br />Mining and Cumulative Hydrologic Impacts" of this document. <br />The operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. <br />- 18 - <br />