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Mountain Coal Company 1998 Annual Hydrology Report West Elk Mine • Seeps and Springs Impacts Hydrographs for all of the springs for the periods of record aze presented in Appendix E, in the same order that the spring stations are listed in Table 2. The hydrographs provide a convenient means for assessing flow variation over time. Seasonal trends can be established and pre-mining (baseline) and post-mining data can be compared. Based on Appendix D, most of the WY98 spring flows were generally consistent with data from past years. There aze a couple of springs that appeaz to have been potentially affected by mining activities. The dry period of May through September may account for a few springs (G-12, G- la, and G-42) not yielding measwable flow that historically have flowed. At present, these springs, which are all located in Sylvester Gulch, appear to reflect the lack of precipitation, not mining impacts. Spring G-24 is located in Sylvester Gulch and was "destroyed" during construction of the facilities. The surface expression of the spring is no longer evident in its historic location; however, the source of the water was probably not affected. The spring has probably relocated downgradient or dispersed. The peak flows for this spring typically ranged from 20 to 60 gpm. MCC owns all of the water rights in Sylvester Gulch; no other water users were adversely impacted. If the spring re-emerges, MCC will continue monitoring. Spring Water Quality Data In addition to regulazly monitoring the flows of 40 springs, MCC collects extensive water quality data on the springs. The chemistry of spring flows may change if mining has impacted the spring. The tables in Appendix E have been prepared to summarize the available data for all measwed parameters. These tables provide minimum, average, and maximum concentrations under both baseline, when available, and WY98 conditions. Inspection of the data reveals that, in general, water quality concentrations during WY98 were comparable to those in previous yeazs. The available data indicated that there were no deviations during WY98 from baseline conditions. Available water quality data indicate that impacts to spring water quality due to mining have not occurred as predicted. Stock Ponds Map 3 shows the locations of the stock ponds and U.S. Forest Service water resowces relative to the B-Seam longwall panels. As the map indicates, few of these resowces were within the influence of mining in WY98. As expected, no impacts were noted due to mining. 31-0 1. 00 age rig t Water ngineers