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Kathy Welt and Christine Johnston <br />March 7, 1997 (DRAFT) <br />Page 18 <br />XI. OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT DURING <br />1996 AND 1997 <br />MCC is working proactively to ensure that unexpected mine inflows can be managed without <br />canpromising safety, operations or environmental requirements, such as the NPDES permit that <br />applies ro mine outflows. Examples include: <br />1. Evaluating and utilizing previously-mined aeeas as large capacity sumps for emergency <br />situations when the hydraulic capacity of the treatment facilities is exceeded. The NW Panel <br />sealed sump is presently serving that purpose. <br />2. Development mining is proceeding in a measured and cautious manner in the eastern portion of <br />the B-Seam mine workings. Mining plans have been developed to include procedures if mining <br />encounters awater-bearing fault. As a result, MCC will be prepared to mobilize rapidly to <br />control inflows. <br />3. MCC has installed numerous pumps and [Hiles of pipeline in the mine to manage inflows in <br />accordance with the mine water management schematic on Figure 3. <br />4. Borehole lithologies and stratigraphic correlations both locally and regionally are being <br />thoroughly scrutinized to assess whether there are indications of other fault systems. <br />5. Water quality analyses from vazious surface and subsurface sources are being reviewed to assess <br />similarities for purposes of "finger-printing" these fault inflows. Isotope analyses have been and <br />will be conducted for similar purposes. <br />6. Distribution systems within the mine have been and will be constructed to handle these large <br />inflows and to separate and discharge the water to either the large capacity sumps or the surface. <br />MCC has constructed pipelines and necessary pump stations in the entries developed south of the <br />B East Mains fault projection in the Box Canyon Mains. Most of these pipelines have been <br />plumbed to allow dedicated clean water flows from the mine for direct discharge to the North <br />Fork and/or for recycling and mine use. Water quality results indicate that the fault system <br />water, like other inflows to the mine, are of sufficient quality to allow for direct discharge to the <br />North Fork. Other pipelines carry sediment-laden water to the NW Panel sealed sump or to <br />surface ponds for treatment and release (or use). MCC has breached [he seals in Cross-cut #14 <br />of the 1NW Tailgate and Cross-cut #37 in the B West Mains and installed additional ports to <br />facilitate larger capacity pumping into and out of the seal area. <br />7. In January 1997, MCC appropriated the fault water and sump storage areas. MCC will move <br />forward with the adjudication of these rights because they are more thoroughly quantified and <br />evaluated relative to other water rights in the North Fork valley. <br />8. As an option, MCC has obtained a Lone Pine Gulch NPDES discharge permit in anticipation of <br />potential discharges from the NW Panel sealed sump. Depending on the quality of the water <br />within the sump, direct discharge to the North Fork may also occur. Other options are being <br />considered for alternate surface discharge of this stored water. <br /> <br />