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Springs in West Elk Mine area are also monitored. Seven <br /> springs that potentially could be impacted by mining are <br /> monitored. Nine other springs have been added to the <br /> monitoring program on Jumbo Mountain. Several decreed <br /> springs on the West Elk Mine lease area have the potential of <br /> impairment as a result of mining the F Seam. Springs are also <br /> monitored three times a year for pH, conductivity, temperature, <br /> total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, total iron and total <br /> manganese. The springs, to date, show no significant trends or <br /> changes which can be associated with mining activity. Most <br /> springs are responsive to spring runoff, but flow rates are <br /> sporadic and many times do not correlate well with other <br /> seasonal parameters such as snowpack, precipitation, or <br /> streamflow. <br /> b. Surface Water Effects <br /> The West Elk Mine plan is designed to minimize the impacts of the <br /> project on the surface water hydrology of the region. Disturbed area <br /> drainage is collected and treated on the site. Sediment pond water <br /> may be discharged to the North Fork or stored when water rights are <br /> in priority for reuse within the mine area. Drainage from undisturbed <br /> land is diverted around the site. Five sedimentation ponds have been <br /> built for the surface facilities area. These are: <br /> MB-1 Large upper pond <br /> MB-2R Large lower pond <br /> MB-3 Small lower pond <br /> MB-4 Train loadout pond <br /> MB-5 Bear pond <br /> With Permit Revision No.7, one additional pond is proposed for <br /> Sylvester Gulch. Sediment control pond (SG-1) will be built at the <br /> lower west end of the shafts site to capture sediment laden runoff from <br /> the disturbed area. Pond SG-1 is proposed to discharge to Sylvester <br /> Gulch, which then discharges to the North Fork of the Gunnison River. <br /> Two freshwater ponds, FW-1 and FW-2, are proposed for water <br /> storage. Pond FW-1 is currently in operation. Pond FW-2 will be <br /> constructed in the event that additional water storage is needed and is <br /> not proposed for this five-year permit term. The potential location of <br /> FW-2 has not been discussed in MCC's permit nor have designs been <br /> submitted. A system of lined ditches convey water from the disturbed <br /> areas to the ponds. With the exception of SG-I, all sedimentation <br /> ponds discharge directly into the North Fork of the Gunnison River. <br /> The mine operation has obtained the appropriate NPDES permits. <br /> Effluent quality for the sedimentation ponds has been monitored and <br /> will continue to be monitored to determine permit compliance. The <br /> 39 <br />