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TSS and returned to normal in 2012. A spike in 2012 chloride level occurred for no apparent <br />reason. <br />E -1- Lower Elk Creek <br />Surface water monitoring point E -1 - Lower Elk Creek, an ephemeral drainage, is monitored as a <br />down gradient site to verify that the Elk Creek Mine and the surface facility located at Somerset <br />does not have an adverse affect on the quality of runoff in the drainage. During the prevailing <br />2012 drought conditions, there was, again, minimal stream flow at E -1 after spring snowmelt. A <br />spike in 2012 chloride level occurred for no apparent reason. An analysis of the limited data <br />suggests there is no adverse impact of the Elk Creek Mine to Lower Elk Creek. <br />E -2- Upper Elk Creek <br />Surface water monitoring point E -2 - Upper Elk Creek, an ephemeral drainage, is monitored to <br />verify that the Elk Creek mine does not have an adverse affect on the quality of runoff in the <br />drainage. In addition, the site will serve as an up- gradient site to monitor Elk Creek prior to <br />entering the OMLLC surface facility. During 2012 there was, again, minimal flow at E -2 after <br />spring snowmelt. A spike in 2012 chloride level occurred for no apparent reason. <br />An analysis of the limited data suggests there is no adverse impact of the Elk Creek mine to <br />Lower Elk Creek. <br />S -1 — Upper Sanborn Creek and S -2 — Lower Sanborn Creek <br />Surface water monitoring points S -1 - Upper Sanborn Creek and S -2 — Lower Sanborn Creek <br />were established to monitor the flow in ephemeral Sanborn Creek above and below the disturbed <br />area of the Sanborn Creek Mine site. Historically, Sanborn Creek also received mine water <br />discharge from the Sanborn Creek Mine, consisting primarily of natural mine water inflows and <br />some runoff of imported (from the North Fork intake) water from the mining sections. The mine <br />water discharge (CDPS discharge point 011) commingled with upper Sanborn Creek flow for a <br />distance of approximately 300 feet through culverts under the railroad and highway prior to <br />discharging into the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The S -2 sample site is located at the <br />outlet of the culvert, prior to the confluence with the river. Because of the 2003 closure of the <br />Sanborn Creek mine, and the termination of discharge Outfall point 011, the S -2 sample site was <br />no longer needed and, thus, eliminated from the OMLLC hydrologic monitoring program in <br />2004. (see TR -45). <br />Sanborn Creek, an ephemeral stream, flows at monitoring point S -1 during spring runoff and <br />significant precipitation events. During 2011, S -1 had the usual minimal flows and by mid -June <br />flows had ceased altogether. An analysis of the limited data suggests there is no adverse impact <br />of the Sanborn Creek mine to Sanborn Creek. <br />C -1 — Lower Coal Gulch <br />Surface water monitoring point C -1 - Lower Coal Gulch, an ephemeral drainage, is monitored to <br />verify that the Sanborn Creek mine does not have an adverse affect on the quality of runoff in <br />this drainage. During 2012 there was, again, minimal flow in Coal Gulch during spring <br />8 <br />