Laserfiche WebLink
West Elk Mine 2008 Annual Hydrology Report 50 <br />. 4.5.1 Ponds MB-1 and MB-2R <br />Pond MB-1 collects the mine site's surface operations water and diverts storm water runoff. Water <br />from Pond MB-1 can be discharged into either the North Fork of the Gunnison River or transferred <br />to Pond FW-1 per MCC's water storage rights. Pond MB-2R receives water from surface <br />operations, storm runoff, and effluent from the WWTP. Discharge from MB-2R is typically routed <br />to the North Fork, but can be diverted to Pond FW-1, if necessary. Both Pond MB-1 and Pond <br />MB-2R retain water, so settling of sediment occurs prior to discharge (batch mode). In WY 2008, <br />Pond MB-1 discharged 53.51 ac-ft and MB-2R discharged 100.89 ac-ft of water to the North Fork <br />(Figure 9) (MCC, 2009). There were no water quality permit exceedances at ponds MB-1 or MB- <br />2R (Table 12). <br />4.5.2 Ponds MB-3, MB-4, and MB-5 <br />Ponds MB-3 and MB-4 receive storm water runoff and wash down water from the mine's <br />conveyors, silos, and load-out facilities. Pond MB-5 collects only storm water runoff. In WY <br />2008, pond MB-4 collected a small amount of water resulting in discharges of about 0.22 ac-ft. <br />There were no water quality permit exceedances in WY 2008 at pond MB-4 (Table 12). No water <br />is was discharged from pond MB-3 or MB-5 in WY 2008 (MCC, 2009). <br />4.5.3 Pond FW-1 <br />Pond FW-1 is designed to store raw fresh water from the North Fork diversion intake gallery. <br />Pond FW-1 water is pumped to the mine water storage tank, the WTP and the potable water <br />system. If the pond overfills, excess water is discharged back to the North Fork. <br />4.5.4 RPE Pond <br />The RPE Pond collects runoff from the refuse pile expansion area. In WY 2008 the discharge from <br />the RPE pond was 1.84 ac-ft and there were no water quality permit exceedances (Table 12) <br />(MCC, 2009). <br />4.5.5 Pond SG-1 <br />Pond SG-1 was built to collect runoff from the mine ventilation shaft bench areas. Discharge from <br />Pond SG-1 is routed to Sylvester Gulch. In WY 2008 there was no discharge from Pond SG-1 <br />(MCC, 2009). <br /> <br />June 2009 HydroGeo, Inc.