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West Elk Mine <br />Hydrologic Protection Durine Oueradou <br />Once construction of the mine facilities was completed and mining operations commenced, surface <br />facilities site runoff was diverted into the surface site sedimentation ponds (see the Collection and <br />Diversion Channels Section of this Chapter). <br />Any discharge of water from the ponds to the North Fork of the Gunnison River is in accordance <br />with effluent limitations and monitoring requirements stipulated in the NPDES pemut. See Exhibit <br />7 to this Mining and Reclamation Plan. Should monitoring data indicate a violation of any effluent <br />limitation specified, MCC will notify the State, and proceed immediately to correct the violation. <br />MCC will periodically conduct maintenance and install erosion control in channels to minhnize <br />contributions of sediment to streamflow or runoff outside the pemut area. <br />Management of the refuse disposal azeas and sedimentation ponds to minimize water pollution are <br />the major hydrological concern during operations. During operations, water will be dischazged <br />from the mine. The water from the mine is routed through the surface drainage system into the <br />sedimentation ponds or dischazged via the Lone Pine Pipeline or Sylvester Gulch Dewatering <br />Facility. No appreciable amounts of water dischazges from the portal tunnels. The discharge water <br />is treated, if necessary, to meet water quality standazds. Should more groundwater be encountered <br />than anticipated, prior to dischazge of excess mine water, an analysis of anticipated water quality <br />and quantity and its effects on the receiving stream will be provided. The F, E and B coal seams are <br />not of an acid- or iron-producing nature. The dischazge from the mine has a minimal effect upon <br />the existing hydrologic balance. <br />The loadout facilities consisting of the silo, loadout conveyor, and loadout building are designed to <br />prevent negative impacts to the river. Transfer points at the silo and the loadout building are <br />enclosed, and have dust suppression systems (water sprays). The loadout conveyor is in an <br />enclosed gallery where it crosses the river and the CDOT highway bridge. The loadout building is <br />totally enclosed and runoff from the area impounded within the limits of the facility where it is <br />treated before discharging. <br />Impacts of Overtopping Hvdrologic Structures <br />All diversion structures aze designed for use throughout the life of the West Elk Mine. See Exhibit <br />44, Exhibit 47, and Exhibit 66 for details of the design of these structures, including stability <br />analyses, where appropriate. <br />The ditches have been designed and constructed to follow existing drainage routes. Overtopping <br />the collection and diversion ditches would create localized flooding of the immediate azea; however, <br />damage would be minimal as flows would most likely enter the next downstream ditch or culvert <br />and flow to the sediment pond. The future access road to the upper waste rock disposal azea would <br />be closed to traffic during such times. Since most of the ditches are lined with shotcrete or other <br />such energy dissipaters, problems would be minunal. <br />Ponds MB-1 and MB-2R have been shown to safely pass through the spillways the runoff from a <br />100-yeaz precipitation event into the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Overtopping impoundment <br />structures would create erosion along the embankments and contribute to localized flooding. In the <br />2.05-37 RevisedNovemher 2004 PR/0; Rev. March 1006; Rev. Apri12006 PR/0; Rev. May 2006 PR70 <br />