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rockfal] mitigation swctures, located north of the primary TCC facilities, cover approximately 30 acres. The <br />• coal refuse pile at TCC covers approximately 35 acres. Other associated satellite TCC support facilities <br />contribute an additional ]0 to 15 acres. The associated Fish Creek Tipple site is located approximately 20 miles <br />southwest of Steamboat Springs at the north end of Twentymile Park, covering an area of approximately IS acres. <br />Foidel Creek flows adjacent to the TCC Foidel Creek Mine surface facilities and receives treated effluent from a <br />series of sediment ponds established at the facility. Mine site drainage is controlled through seven (7) sediment <br />ponds (Ponds T, B, C, D, E, F, and G -see Figure 2). Mine water is discharged from the mine and routed <br />through Pond D prior to being discharged to Foide] Creek. The Fish Creek drainage is located north of the Foide] <br />Creek Mine surface facilities area and overlies tracts, which have been longwall mined. Mine water is also <br />discharged into Fish Creek via the Fish Creek Borehole facility (discharge site 115). Former surface operations at <br />the Fish Creek Tipple site (east of the TCC Foide] Creek Mine) also discharge to Fish Creek at surface site 62. <br />The southwest area of TCC (Eckman Park area), have been reclaimed and has been released from bond. In <br />addition, the former surface mine area referred to as Area 1 was released from bond in January 2002. As a result, <br />[he Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) subsequently approved eliminating Ponds <br />A (Eckman Park) and H (Area I) from our ongoing NPDES monitoring program. <br />Surface coal mining has been conducted in the area since [he 1960's. The Fish Creek Tipple site was conswcted <br />in 1974, and ceased operation in 1983. The Foidel Creek Mine was later established in 1983, and is an on-going <br />• operation. The Foidel Creek Mine portals are faced-up in [he down dip high-wall of the strip mine. Hydrologic <br />monitoring was initiated by CYCC in 1979. TCC continues the monitoring program under updated DMG permit <br />requirements, which is discussed in the next section. <br />Since mid-1987, hydrologic monitoring and reporting has primarily been conducted by TCC personnel. In May <br />of 1995, a private firm (Miller Water Monitoring Service) was contracted to assist with hydrologic monitoring at <br />the TCC sites, and continues to assist in monitoring to date. Prior to June 1986, water quality analyses were <br />performed by the on-site CYCC laboratory. From 1987 to 2000, water quality analyses were primarily performed <br />by ACZ Laboratories (formerly Bookcliffs) of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Beginning in 2001, water quality <br />analysis has primarily been performed by Commercial Testing & Engineering (C.T.&E.) of Denver, Colorado. <br />Three former US Geologic Survey (USGS) surface water sites addressed in this report (USGS 09243700, USGS <br />09243800 and USGS 09243900) were monitored for flow by the USGS through the 2001 water year. Prior to the <br />1989 Water Year, the USGS had collected and analyzed water quality samples from these sites. From the 1989 <br />water year to date, TCC has collected water quality samples from these sites for laboratory analysis. Beginning <br />with the 2002 water year, TCC took over monitoring of these three sites (referred to as sites 700, 800, and 900, <br />respectively) from the USGS. In 2003, TR03-42 eliminated site 700 on Middle Creek (discussed further below). <br />3.0 2004 HYDROLOGIC MONITORING PROGRAM <br />• Specific monitoring site locations and [heir elevations are shown on Figure 2. Required monitoring frequencies <br />and associated parameter lists can be found in Permit No. C-82-056, under Exhibit 14. 2004 data collected a[ <br />2 <br />