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• <br />H~dro(oge loofa fkaprrlaun^ and bnpact Aaemneiv far the Pemir mdAdjacau Arcar <br />from the well The sample resulu indicate the <br />lower refuse pile is not impacting the groundwater <br />zone near Sylvester Crcek. Due to the low perme- <br />ability of the mlluvial soil and the lack of a <br />goundwater table neaz the surface in the colluvi- <br />um (except along the margin of Sylvester Crcek), <br />no significant future impacu to the groundwater <br />regime are anticipated. <br />Conductivity and TDS from samples of monitoring <br />well GP-1 were closely monitored bemuse conduct <br />deity was slightly higher than the baseline samples <br />in some instances during 1986. However, this does <br />not appear to be a continuing problem. During <br />1991, both conduttivity and TDS values were <br />~ essentially within the ranges of baseline values. <br />~ ~ _ ,Concentrations of iron in the 1991 monitoring <br />~`~~ " ~ samples were higher than in those identified during <br />V' .` ~~ ~~ bazeline monitoring. This inttease maybe associat- <br />' -' ' r ~ ed with the "B" development wazte. Concentra- <br />\`r• ~ i~~~LY Lions of 'iron in the 1992 samples will be observed <br />\~~?•~ to see i[ the elevated levels continue. <br />• <br />l~ <br />Refuse pile monitoring wells GP-3 through GP-5 <br />remained dry throughout water year 1991. Also, <br />there were no visible Oows from the tce and mid- <br />section underdrain duringwateryear 1991. Howev- <br />er, pond MB-! collected surface runoff from the <br />refuse pile, az well az any flows hom the <br />underdrain and can be considered representative of <br />refuse pile conditions. A sample taken from MB~i <br />on 7 May 1991 indipted pH, conductivity, dis- <br />solved oxygen, turbidity, iron, and manganese were <br />8.9, 0.76 mmhas/cm, 3.2 percent, 157, 10.4 mg/l, <br />and 6 mg/l, respectively. Another sample taken on <br />12 June 1991 indicated pH, conduttivity, dissolved <br />oxygen, iron, and manganese were similar with <br />values of 8.5, 3.15 mmhos/ttn, 1.2 percent, <br />Z.55 mg/l, and 9 mg/l, respectively. <br />The amount of refuse material placed in the lower <br />refuse pile is highly dependant on conditions <br />encountered in the mine. Projected refuse produc- <br />tion [or 1992 from mining in the "B" seam and <br />rehabilitation of the "F" seam belt entries is <br />approximately ?5,000 tons. <br />-~ <br />Assessment of Springs <br />A comparison of 1991 monitoring data with <br />previous years shows no signifipnt trends or <br />changes which can be associated with mining <br />activity. Most springs are responsive to spring <br />runoff, but Oow rates are sporadic and many times <br />do not oortelate well with other seasonal parame- <br />terssuch az snawpack, predpitation, or streamfiow. <br />Assessment of Surface <br />Water and AVF'S ;..:. ~ ~~ <br />l.J ../ - <br />[.4` 1 <br />Efforts were made in previous annual reports to <br />characterize bazeline river water quality. The <br />purpose was to evaluate potential changes in <br />surface water quality due to mining activities at the <br />West Elk Mine. Continuous monitoring of stream <br />flows and periodic monitoring of spring discharge <br />rates are performed to provide the long term data <br />base from which possible impacu of mining can be <br />assessed. <br />Baseline Characterization of <br />Water Quality and Streamflow <br />A baseline characterization of North Fork water <br />quality waz performed in previous annual reports <br />to evaluate the potential changes in North Fork <br />water quality that could result from discharges at <br />the West Elk Mine. Baseline characterization was <br />performed downstream of the mine before the start <br />of construction in August 1481. Data sources were <br />the USGS sueam gauging station on the North <br />Fork near Somerset and the Mountain Coal <br />Company's water quality monitoring station on the <br />North Fork below the mine. Both stations were <br />downstream of the surface facilities area and down- <br />stream of all discharge poinu. Baseline data and <br />analysis of these data are provided in the Mining <br />and Reclamation Plan for the West Elk Mine and <br />in the first annual hydrology report. <br />~U~au ~ 5~/ 900 ~G~:jOJ ~cf~~a~ r;~ pr~1~. <br />• li~lh"Lt I~ ((7h,~u~~iyr~Y ~~ SSoI~<<~ ~xy~ tit <br />--~--- <br />~',la~ ~, ~ 1'i~ ~, 9 4.aG l:ltnhos~/,evi 13 3• L °Io <br />c;un.c r1r r~9/ ~• ~ , 15 t ~,a,~~s(fs~- ~, L ~o <br />~,,,h,a,r,~ {~_~, rtii~ <br />15~- to ~/~"~/n ~o n,~~ <br />J <br />a,ss ~i~ ~`v'.i/! <br />~. <br />.ac~?u, uH9.te_. <br />