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Springs are also monitored three times a year for pH, <br />conductivity, temperature, total dissolved solids, total suspended <br />solids, total iron and total manganese. The springs, to date, show <br />no significant trends or changes which can be associated with <br />mining activity. Most springs are responsive to spring runoff, but <br />flow rates are sporadic and many times do not correlate well with <br />other seasonal parameters such as snowpack, precipitation, or <br />streamflow. <br />b. Surface Water Effects <br />The West Elk Mine has installed a system of ditches and ponds for <br />controlling sediment eroded from areas disturbed by mining activities. <br />Drainage from undisturbed land is diverted around the site. Almost all <br />drainage from disturbed areas is collected in ponds and treated on-site. <br />There are several small, isolated areas where drainage is not routed to a <br />sediment pond; in these areas, alternative sediment control methods (silt <br />fences, mulch, etc.) are used for controlling sediment. <br />A system of lined and unlined ditches convey water from the disturbed <br />areas to eight sedimentation ponds that have been constructed for the <br />surface facilities area. These are: <br />MB-1 Large upper pond <br />MB-2R Large lower pond <br />MB-3 Small lower pond <br />MB-4 Train loadout pond <br />MB-5 Bear pond <br />SG-1 Upper Sylvester Gulch pond <br />NSSA North Soil Storage Area pond <br />RPE ponds Refuse pile expansion area <br />With the exception of pond SG-1, all sedimentation ponds discharge <br />directly into the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The mine operation <br />has obtained the appropriate NPDES permits for the discharges. Effluent <br />quality for the sedimentation ponds has been monitored and will continue <br />to be monitored to determine permit compliance. With the exception of <br />occasional WET test failures for microorganisms, and isolated <br />exceedances of suspended solids discharge limitations, the mine has not <br />had recurring problems complying with surface water quality standards. <br />The NPDES permit allows for a discharge of 10,000 gpd, based on a <br />30-day average, from MCC's sanitary waste water treatment plant. The <br />potential impact of discharge of waste water effluent would be greatest <br />when the dilution ratio for effluent is smallest. <br />37