2018-01-31_PERMIT FILE - C2009087A (7)

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RULE 2 - PERMITS proposed surface water nlonitorin( plan \\ill detect adverse changes in surface water qualit} or quantity in a time]\, manner. and enable corrective action to be taken. GroundkNater potentially related to the proposed ruining activities occurs in five h }drostratigraphic units described in Section 2.04.7. The two shallow aquifers include the reclaimed mine spoils aquifer at the adjacent Seneca 11 Mine and the alluvial aquifers along Little Grass) Creek and Grassy Creek. The three bedrock units include the Wadge coal and the underburden and overburden below and above the coal. The bedrock units arc adjacent to one another physically and are closely related h} drologically: the\, form part of the basal Willianls Fork aquifer described by Robson and Stewart ( 1990). Conversely, the two ]Major regloIlal sandstone aquifers in the area, the I wentyllllle and Trout Creek aquifers. are not hydrologically related to the units to be disturbed by the proposed mining. The regional aquifers occur about 600 feet above and 235 feet bolo« the Wadoe coal and are isolated front the coal by low - permeability shale and claystone. Registered beneficial -use wells in the general area are outside the area in Nvhich the calculated potentionletriC surface dra\vdown exceeds a fc\� feet. as described in section 2.05.6(3)(b)(iii). Additionally. no significant changes to the bedrock aquifer groundwater quality are anticipated to OCCLIr as a result Of Ininlllg. Consequently, no impact to the beneficial -use wells is expected. If SLICK impacts were to occur. they could be mitigated through use of water rights held b} Peabody. As discussed in section 2.04.7, potentially directly affected streams include Grassy Creek. Little Grassy Creek. and Cow Camp Creek. Downstream waterways include Fish Creek and Trout Creek. with the Yampa River as the ultimate receiving water body. The hydrologic environment in the mine permit and adjacent areas is described and characterized in detail in Sections 2.04.5, General Description OI Geology and lydrology, and 2.04.7. Hydrologic Description. Relevant hNdroloolc features are shown on Map 2.04.5-Ml. Regional Geology and Hydrology, and Map 2.04.7 -1\11. Hydrology. In order to assess the probable hydrologic consequences of the planned mining and related activities PSCM has reviewed and evaluated all available information on baseline hydrologic conditions in Section 2.04.7, Hydrology Description, which characterizes the existing surface and ground water environments. Within the context of the existing hydrologic conditions, PSCM then considered all potential hydrologic impacts, both positive and negative. which could occur as a result of the current and planned mining and related activities based on the plans presented in Sections 2.05 .2 and 2.053, Operations Plan, and Section 2.05.4, Reclamation Plan. Both direct and indirect mining- related impacts were identified and evaluated and the effectiveness of operational protection and control measures and reclamation activities in mitigating potential impacts were considered in the assessment of probable hydrologic impacts. Probable Hydrologic Consequences are summarized below. Later sections assess the probable hydrologic consequences of the planned PSCM in detail. 2.05.6 (3)(b)(iii) Probable Hydrologic Consequences Rule 2.05.6(3)(b)(iii) requires determination of probable hydrologic consequences for the proposed mining operations. This rule indicates that these consequences must be defined for both the permit area and adjacent areas, for quantity and quality of surface and ground waters. Baseline conditions must be established, and possible impacts from the proposed activities must be anticipated. Surface and ground water hydrologic systems may potentially be impacted by mining and related operations. These impacts are not expected to be significant, will not effect either surface or Midterm Review 2.05 -69 Revision 04/2013