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1 <br />' William J. Carter March 12, 1998 <br />Re: Response to Susan Burgmaier's comments on the 1996 Annual Hydrologic Report <br />' Response 6. <br />While Sanborn Creek Mine does not believe any meaningful information will be gathered from <br />' monitoring "Springs 1-6", which are re-emergence of surface water in tributaries to Hawksnest <br />Creek, with 5 of the 6 being outside the Permit Area, Sanborn Creek Mine will continue the <br />approved monitoring plan, as stated in the 1995 and 1996 Annual Hydrologic Reports. <br />' Comment 7. <br />"Map E8-3286 shows the locations of the water monitoring points. It appears that NF-2, which <br />' should be the downstream site, is not downstream of all surface disturbance areas. The Somerset <br />Mine facilities area and the confluence of Elk Creek with the North Fork (surface disturbance areas <br />draining to Elk Creek) aze both downstream of the depicted NF-2 site. If this is the case, OCM <br />' should reevaluate the location of NF-2, or provide information as to how OCM mill verify the <br />prediction that these facilities will not have a negative impact on surface water quality." <br />' Response 7. <br />Monitoring site NF-1 and NF-2 were required to be monitored starting with Permit Revision <br />Number 1, the opening of the Sanborn Creek Mine, Decision Date: March 27, 1991. The Somerset <br />' Mine facilities azea and the confluence of Elk Creek with the North Fork of [he Gunnison River <br />were both downstream of the depicted NF-2 site when it was approved in 1991. <br />' Mine facilities associated with the Somerset Mine, which closed in ] 985, have been located around <br />the confluence of Elk Creek with the North Fork of the Gunnison River since the Somerset Mine <br />' was opened by Utah Fuel Company about 1902. The Town of Somerset has also occupied the <br />same area, with changes in both the mine facilities and the town over time. Records were checked <br />to determine what changes in monitoring requirements have occurred since the Surface Mining <br />' Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. <br />The oldest monitoring records, other than the baseline data, available at the mine site are from <br />' 1983. The records indicate the following sites were monitored: WMW-1, Water Monitoring Well <br />Number 1, which is a shallow alluvial well adjacent to the Upper Hubbard Creek Site; H-1, <br />Hubbard Creek Downstream; and H-2, Hubbard Creek Upstream. Mine inflow, at three locations <br />' underground, was also sampled in 1984 and 1985 for the Mine Inflow Study. <br />Records also indicate the Bear Tank Dischazge, mine water discharge at the Bear Creek portals; Elk <br />Creek Discharge, mine water discharge at the Elk Creek portals; and the North Fork of the <br />Gunnison River above Elk Creek were monitored. In June 1984, discharge from three of the many <br />' small sediment ponds were monitored after a storm. Also in February 1985, discharge from two of <br />the many small sediment ponds were monitored. <br />' 14 <br />!\ <br />1 <br />