PERMFILE118274

• Permit No: C1980007A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 11/16/2006
• Section_Exhibit Name: 2.05.5 & 2.05.6 Post-Mining Land Uses and Mitigation of Surface Coal Mining Operation Impacts
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

West Elk Mine
• Water quality data from the B-Seam wells supports this statement (see Table 19 in Section 2.04.7
for wells SOM-C-72H, JMB-l2, and SOM-129H and annual hydrology reports). This statement
also remains true for the water emanating from the B East Mains and 14SE Headgate fault systems
within the West Elk Mine. In May 1996, MCC received approval from CWQCD to temporarily
discharge the B East Mains inflow water directly to the MB-1 emergency spillway. Direct
dischazge of mine water through NPDES discharge points 013, 016, and 017 (located in Lone Pine
Gulch, the MB-1 spillway, and Sylvester Gulch, respectively) was subsequently approved by
CWQCD through formal amendments to MCC's NPDES permit effective May 1997 and February
1998.
9. "Disturbances and changes to water quality, if they occur, will be manifested in B-Seam
dischazge water and B-Seam monitoring wells prior to any potential impact to the Rollins
Sandstone. The B-Seam is sepazated from the Rollins Sandstone by siltstones, shales, and
another coal seam. It is unlikely that the Rollins Sandstone would be used as a primary
drinking water source because of its great depth outside stream valleys and the ready
availability of better quality surface water near the stream valleys." (p.30).
WWE, along with Messrs. Rold and Dunrud, view it as unlikely that the Rollins Sandstone will be
directly affected by mining in the permit azea. As mentioned previously, the Rollins Sandstone
itself acts as an effective barrier to groundwater. The only significant inflows have been associated
with fault and fracture systems. It is important to note that this formation is not used as a water
source in the vicinity of the West Elk Mine.
• 10. "Monitoring of springs for baseline data and to assess impacts of mining in the F-Seam has
been carved out for the past ten yeazs by MCC. Evidence to date indicates that mining has
very little, if any, impact on spring flows. The depth of overburden where the B-Seam will be
mined in the area of the springs (in the Jumbo Mountain tract) ranges from 400 to an excess of
1,000 feet. Based on the experience in the F-Seam and geotechnical work, the springs will not
be affected significantly by mining in the B-Seani under these overburden depths." (p. 31).
WWE's assessment of the Apache Rocks and Box Canyon permit revision azeas indicates that the
same conclusion applies. Overburden depths within the Apache Rocks permit revision area will
range from approximately 400 to 1,100 feet over the E-Seam for the west longwall panels and
approximately 800 to 2,250 feet over the B-Seam for the east longwall panels. Overburden depths
within the Box Canyon permit revision area will range from approximately 500 to 2,200 feet over
the B-Seam.
11. "The applicant anticipates no degradation of groundwater quality during mining. The
applicant will treat any mine water effluent as necessary to meet water quality standards
prior to discharge and there will be no uncontrolled mine water drainage after mining is
complete, which might otherwise degrade surface streams or groundwater." (p32).
The available data indicate that most groundwater quality is adequate to meet stream standazds.
Poor quality water, usually a result of increased suspended solids, is directed into sumps within the
mine prior to being pumped out the mine through several different locations discussed elsewhere in
this section. The detailed discussion in Section 2.05.6 Groundwater Quality Effects indicates there
2.05-/79 RevrsedJune 2005 PR/0, January 2006, March 2006; Rev, May 1006 PRIO