2007-11-01_PERMIT FILE - C1982056A (8)

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(a) Each applicant shall contain a detailed description ~~rith appropriate mans, which are preoared to the standards of 2_]0 _and_cross-section dra~;~ngs.ofthe_measures to betaken during and_.afier,the proposed surface or (i) The quality of surface and ground water, within both the proposed permit area and adjacent_areas,_from_adyerse_e_ff_ects of the_proposed. surface or_underground mining activities' PROTECTION OF WATER QUALITY TCC N7II utilize numerous methods reflecting the best practical technology currently available in order to minimize changes to water quality and the prevailing hydrologic balance in both the permit area and adjacent areas. These water quality control measures will be implemented in order [o minimize long-term adverse changes in the hydrologic balance, which could result from mining. Discussions relative to the quality and quantity of surface and ground water of the Fish Creek Tipple operation are found within Volume VII of the Fish Creek Tipple/Loadout Appendix, pages 2.05-77 through 2.05-90. Surface Water Quality Protection The primary methods for erosion, sediment and drainage control are based on minimizing the impact of present and the small amount of future surface disturbance, by promoting prompt revegelation, by trapping sediment and by detaining runoff as close to the disturbed areas as possible. In certain instances, runoff from undisturbed areas will be diverted away from disturbed areas. Diversion structures are shown on Map 24, Surface Facilities. They serve to divert water from undisturbed areas away from disturbed areas and from disturbed areas into sediment control facilities. Not only does this diversion vstem reduce the amount of water flo~~~ng across disturbed areas and thus reduce water velocity and sediment yield, ~ut it also reduces the size and number of sedimentation ponds required. Temporary diversion structures are designed and will be constructed and maintained to handle the amount of runoff from the ]0-year, 24-hour precipitation event with the exception of Ditch D-3 which is designed, constructed and maintained to handle the amount of runoff from a 100-year, 24-hour event. All diversions are constructed using proper roughness characteristics, maintenance of appropriate gradients, revegetation, channel lining or detention basins, or a combination of one or more of these measures. Therefore, they adequate for their intended purpose, but also, to the extent possible, prevent additional contributions of suspended solids to stream flow and to runoff outside the proposed permit area. Discharge of effluent from the Foidel Creek Mine is controlled through a network of underground sumps and discharged through a borehole in the rock slope at Entry' No. 3 (Site 109) and through a borehole completed into the west end of the 6 Left entry (Fish Creek Borehole). Site 109 historicall}• discharged to Ditch D-2 at the surface which delivers the effluent to Pond D. As an alternative to maintain operational flexibility the water from the 109 discharge may be piped over to Site 1 ]4. Water collected in [he mine portal wedge area is routed to a sump in the northwest corner of the wedge and pumped to Pond E via Ditch E-1. Likewise, this water may be piped over to Site 114. Water discharged from the Fish Creek borehole is treated, when required, in a series of cells and [hen discharged to Fish Creek at Site 115. The configuration of this system is shown in Map 32. Presently, June 1999, TCC uses sodium hydroxide to treat the effluent from Site 115. This treatment lowers the total recoverable iron concentration of the effluent so that it is in compliance with discharge permit CO-0042 ] 61. The operation of the treatment pond is discussed in Section 2.05.3(4). The locations of sedimentation ponds are shown on Map 24, Surface Facilities. Generally, ponds and spillways ~e sized and located according to such hydrologic factors as required sediment storage volume, rate of flow and +~~"I?©~/~~ FEB 0 8 ZOOU I/3/oo TR 99-32 2.05-128