1990-04-27_REPORT - C1980005 (3)

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' According to Exhibit 13-2, Reclamation Plan (dated 02/21/90), the remaining 2,000 feet of 1 Lennox highwall in the vicinity of Drill Hole Site 2614E, will be reduced and reclaimed in 1999. Spoil samples will be collected from this area once final grading has been completed. Nitrate Sampling Within the Wadge Mining Area i Peabody is required to monitor nitrate levels at Spring BP-0001, Pond DA-0004, and in ' spoil collected from representative revegetation sites as outlined in the Third Annual Topsoil and Spoil Monitoring Report (1988 Field Season) and on pages 6-153a and 6-164 of ' Tab 6 in the Seneca II Permit Application Package (PAP). All of the historical nitrate data is contained in the First and Third Annual Topsoil and Spoil Monitoring Reports. The two spoil water quality monitoring sites, BP-0001 (Spoil Spring) and DA-0004 (NPDES Site), are shown on Exhibit 7-2, Hydrology Monitoring Site Location Map, contained in the Seneca II Mine 1989 Water Year Hydrology Report. The nitrate data for these two sites is presented in Table 1 . Mean nitrate values plus one standard deviation (3.33 t 3.69 ppm and 2.81 f 2.68 ppm) for both sites are below the domestic drinking water standard of 10 ppm established by the USEPA (1976) and the Colorado Department of Health (1977). The nitrate values over the past 7 years ranged from less the 0.02 to 13.8 ppm with only one sample, collected in 1983, exceeding 10 ppm. Nitrate values show seasonal variability with higher concentrations corresponding with increased spring discharge events. No postmine soil pits were excavated in the Wadge mining area during the 1989 field season (see Soil Pit-Topsoil Fertility-Revegetation Monitoring Data section). Therefore, no spoil samples were analyzed for nitrate. No revegetation toxicity or ground water nitrate contamination problems are evident from the monitoring data collected in the Wadge mining area since 1984. Spoil nitrate values actually approach plant deficiency levels. On January 8, 1990, Peabody submitted a request to the Division recommending the nitrate monitoring portion of the regraded spoil sampling plan be revised based upon historical ' data records. Peabody proposed to discontinue the nitrate analysis on spoil samples collected from representative revegetation monitoring sites. For fertility reasons, ' the nitrate analysis will continue to be completed on topsoil samples collected from 2 PEABODY COAL COMPANY Western Division