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• completion of mining and related activities, dewatering will cease and the <br />mine workings are expected to gradually fill as continuous groundwater <br />discharge occurs in mined-out areas. In order to prevent any significant <br />discharge from the mine portals following abandonment, EFCI will seal and <br />backfill the mine portals. Sealing practices are discussed in Sections <br />2.05.4, Reclamation Plan, and 4.07, Sealing of Drilled Holes and <br />Underground Openings. <br />4.05.11 GROUNDWATER PROTECTION <br />As discussed in Section 4.05.8, Acid Forming and Toxic Forming Spoil, none <br />of the materials to be disturbed or handled in the Southfield mine or <br />loadout areas have been identified as being potentially acid or toxic <br />forming. In addition, mine dewatering flows have been monitored and there <br />is no evidence of any significant potential for development of acidic or <br />toxic drainage as a result of any mine water discharge or resaturation <br />following mine abandonment and sealing. <br />• <br />While underground mining and related operations may result in minor shifts <br />in groundwater chemistry and limited increases in TDS levels and <br />concentrations of specific chemical components, these changes in <br />groundwater quality will be localized and are not expected to result in <br />any significant adverse impacts on groundwater systems or proved post- <br />mining land uses. A detailed evaluation of potential groundwater impacts <br />and related mitigation measures is presented in Section 2.05.6, Mitigation <br />of Surface Coal Mining Operation Impacts. <br />The contention that groundwater resources will not be significantly <br />impacted by ongoing mining and related operations is supported by chemical <br />analysis of mine dewatering flows which generally meet all applicable <br />water quality effluent limitations. <br />4.05.12 PROTECTION OF GROUNDWATER RECHARGE CAPACITY <br />Groundwater systems in the mine and loadout areas are described in detail <br />in Section 2.04.7, Hydrology Description. With the possible exception of <br />the Trinidad Sandstone, there are no functional groundwater aquifers in <br />4.05-24 <br />