PERMFILE132469

• Permit No: C1980007A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 6/2/2006
• Section_Exhibit Name: 2.05.4 Reclamation Plan
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

• spring G-31 (#18, Jumbo Mountain Spring No. 4 Pond) were resumed in 1993. Spring G-28a was
not located during the Jumbo Mountain field investigations, but was found to again be flowing in
1994, and monitoring was resumed. Fourteen springs and/or ponds identified on the Jumbo
Mountain tract (Map 34) were monitored for baseline data and were monitored during and after
mining in this azea. Spring G-29 was found, but the spring no longer exists (i.e., no flow), and was
not added to the monitoring program. In 1999, the number of springs monitored in this azea were
reduced to only those springs located above the North Jumbo Mains, where mining impacts could
still occur.
Seasonal measurements (three times per yeaz to correspond to the start of spring runoff, the peak
spring runoff, and the fall low flow) will be taken of spring flow, pH, conductivity, and
temperature. For springs with less than five years of monitoring data, annually, during the second
sampling period, springs will be monitored for laboratory analyses of total dissolved solids (TDS),
total suspended solids (TSS), calcium, magnesium, sodium, SAR, hazdness, bicarbonate, chloride,
nitrate/nitrite, phosphate (POZ s as P), sulfate, iron (total and dissolved), manganese (total and
dissolved), aluminum (dissolved), azsenic (total recoverable), cadmium, copper, lead, mercury (total
recoverable), molybdenum, selenium (total recoverable), boron and zinc. All pazameters will be
analyzed for their dissolved form unless stated otherwise. Once five years of data have been
accumulated the annual laboratory analysis will only include TDS, TSS, pH, conductivity and iron
(dissolved and total). A seasonal, rather than quarterly or semi-annual spring flow and water
quality monitoring schedule was instituted for a variety of reasons. The primary reason for
selecting seasonal sampling is that, in the case of spring flows, these are the only periods of
• measurable flow. Most of the springs are ephemeral or intemuttent at best, except in the wettest
years. The spring flow baseline data, summarized graphically in the Annual Hydrology Report,
clearly indicate that there is no reason to attempt to sample these locations during winter. The
adverse conditions encountered in the remote areas of the West Elk Mine lease area severely
hamper sampling procedures and influence the collection of meaningful data. As a result, by
restricting sampling to the periods of flow and insuring sample integrity, Mountain Coal Company
will be able to provide meaningfirl data to the agency while reducing the costs associated with
collecting unnecessary or data that is not meaningful.
Ground Water Monitoring
In 1974, Mountain Coal Company began a groundwater monitoring program that incorporated
monthly, quarterly and semi-annual monitoring of groundwater levels and/or water quality. Map 34
shows the distribution of monitored wells. Annual hydrology reports contain water quality and
quantity data from the wells. Section 2.04.7 provides a detailed review of the history and
development of groundwater monitoring activities at the West Ells Mine.
It is estimated that it might be some time before secondary recovery mining will take place south of
the Minnesota Creek watershed divide. As a result, there is no need to operate and maintain alease-
wide groundwater monitoring network until mining advances to a point where a specific well might
be impacted. Rather, monitoring of groundwater beyond the five-yeaz permit azea and adjacent azea
have been discontinued until the summer before mining impacts can be expected, at which time
monitoring of the groundwater wells will be resumed. Monitoring will continue, on a seasonal
basis (three times per yeaz to correspond to the start of spring runoff, the peak spring runoff, and the
2.05-74 Revrsed Dec. 1997 MR208; Revised Jan. /999 TR88; Rev. Apri(1006 PRIO