2014-07-29_REVISION - C1981010 (3)

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Forrest Luke, TMI Page 2 7/29/2014 depicting the land use categories does not extend into the eastern portion of the expansion area. Revised Map M16 -Mine Plan Area Vegetation Prior to Mining; depicts this area with Mountain Shrub and Big Sagebrush vegetation cover. Please revise Map M28 and extend the land use layer to depict the land use for the entire expansion area. For the soils unit 99 area, please confirm if any of this area is currently being used or has historically been used farmland. If any area is currently being used as farmland please update Map M28. If any area has historically been used for farmland within five years of any proposed operations within this area, the historic use of the land will need to be depicted on Map M28. c. Trapper's Response #2: Attached Map M28 is revised as requested. Soils Unit 99 areas found within the permit expansion area have not been used for farmland within the past 20+ years. d. Division's Response: This item is considered resolved. 2.04.7 Hydrology Description 8. Based on the surface and ground water analyses discussed in section 2.07 of the permit, it does not appear the surface and ground water system of the expansion area has been analyzed. This information is required for the proposed permit area and adjacent areas, not just areas that are to be disturbed. a. For the expansion area please submit a description of the groundwater hydrology for the proposed permit and adjacent area in accordance with Rule 2.04.7(1)(a). i. Trapper's Response: Ground water hydrology within the permit expansion area does not dramatically change. The structure maps for I and R coal seams were used to aid in the extrapolation of the water -level elevations for the HI and QR aquifers in the permit extension area. The structure map for the H seam was used in the extension of the water -level elevations for the Third White Sandstone because the base of this sandstone is near the top of the H coal. The water -level elevations in the QR aquifer were extended in the permit extension area accounting for the change in the dip of these beds from the north to the northwest. This structure change causes the water level contours to curve to the northeast in the permit extension area resulting in ground -water flow to the northwest instead of the northerly flow that occurs to the west of this area. Similar changes in the flow directions in both the HI and Third White Sandstone aquifers also occur in the permit extension area and to the north of the extension area.