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SECTION 2.05.6(3) <br />PROTECTION OF THE HYDROLOGIC BALANCE <br />This section is divided into discussions: one of the "Protection of the Hydrologic Balance" and <br />the other of the "Probable Hydrologic Consequences of Mining ". Significant data have been <br />collected over the years at the New Horizon #1 Mine and the adjacent existing New Horizon 2 <br />Mine which allows making better predictions for both topics. <br />A) PROTECTION OF THE HYDROLOGIC BALANCE <br />Introduction Surface mining activities to be conducted at the New Horizon North (NHN) <br />mining area outlined in this permit application have been planned to minimize impacts on the <br />hydrologic balance. Mining, reclamation, and monitoring plans and data reporting have been <br />developed to be consistent with the findings of the Probable Hydrologic Consequences analysis <br />presented at the end of this section. The following discussion addresses mining, reclamation, <br />and monitoring plans, and data reporting in the context of how they relate to ground and surface <br />water protection and monitoring. References to those sections which contain details regarding <br />mining and reclamation plans and practices have been also incorporated. Finally, discussions on <br />stream buffer zones and water rights are also included. <br />Ground Water Protection The discussion for ground water protection has been divided into <br />three parts: 1) ground water quality; 2) ground water quantity; and 3) ground water monitoring: <br />Ground Water Quality Mining practices that involve replacement of spoil material into mine <br />pits are detailed in Section 2.05.4(2)(c), Backfilling and Grading. Topsoil and overburden <br />handling procedures are detailed in Section 2.05.4(2)(d), Topsoil Redistribution. These handling <br />procedures were developed after reviewing the physical and chemical properties of the <br />overburden and coal in the NHN permit area (see Section 2.04.6, Geology). Extensive testing of <br />the spoil ( backfill) water quality (pH of about 7.0) at the New Horizon 1 area has shown that <br />areas that have a higher pyritic content in the shale (which can result in oxidation of the pyrite, <br />resulting in a lowering of the pH and an increase in Total Dissolved Solids) have been <br />neutralized by both the neutralization potential of the majority of the backfill and the higher pH <br />of the irrigation water (pH of 8.0 to 8.5). This process will occur over hundreds of years in the <br />backfill until the water quality gradually approaches that of the typical overburden water, which <br />is high in TDS. In the Probable Hydrologic Consequences Item 5), "potential impacts of replaced <br />spoil on groundwater quality ", this oxidation and its impacts are discussed in extensive detail. <br />Overall, the impacts to the groundwater quality and the waters downstream are not significant, <br />although they occur for a lengthy period of time. <br />WFC has developed plans for sampling overburden during mining to identify the quantity and <br />quality of deleterious material (see Section 2.05.4(2)(c), Backfilling and Grading). <br />Section 2.05.6(3) Page 1 November 2011 <br />