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Section 20 Rationale <br /> February-9,2023 <br /> Page 5 of 7 <br /> user who contacted the Applicant regarding a concern and a review of baseline data from the <br /> affected well and vicinity to evaluate whether changes were due to seasonal variations, climate, <br /> mining, slurry wall installation or other factors. The report will identify the extent of potential or <br /> actual impacts associated with the factors. If the mining or reclamation activities are determined to <br /> be due to or a significant contributing factor to the groundwater impacts,the impacts will be <br /> address by the Applicant to the satisfaction of the Division. <br /> The Applicant will implement one (1)or more mitigation measures if the mining and reclamation <br /> activities are determined to be a significant factor to the groundwater impacts. <br /> Mitigation measures may include, but are not limited to: <br /> • Placing water in a recharge pond to raise groundwater elevations around the impacted well. <br /> • Constructing a local clay liner at the edge of the mining cell (i.e. between the dewatering <br /> point and the well) in order to raise groundwater elevations on the well side of the liner and <br /> mitigate the dewatering effects. <br /> • Rehabilitating the well to improve efficiency. <br /> • Providing an alternative source of water or purchasing additional water to support the <br /> historic well use in terms of water quantity and quality. The groundwater quality <br /> parameters will be checked in the affected well(s)to ensure the alternative sources <br /> supports the historic use. <br /> • Modifying a well to operate under lower groundwater conditions. This could include <br /> deepening the well or lowering pumps. All work would be done at the Applicant's expense <br /> with the exception of replacing non-functional equipment in-place prior to the mining <br /> activities. <br /> The Applicant submitted a groundwater quality monitoring plan in the groundwater report. In <br /> order to establish pre-mining groundwater quality for the site,the Applicant will sample monitoring <br /> well#2 (MW-2) on the downgradient side of the site and monitoring well#5 (MW-5) on the up- <br /> gradient side of the site prior to starting mining operations. <br /> The'Applicant will sample MW-2 annually during the same quarter as the initial baseline monitoring. <br /> The groundwater quality samples will be tested for the analysts listed in Tables 1 through 4 of"The <br /> Basic Standards for Ground Water," excluding the radiological section of Table 1. The Applicant will <br /> notify the Division within 7 days of receiving a lab report indicating any exceedance of the standards <br /> set forth in Tables 1 through 4. The groundwater quality lab results will be included in the annual <br /> report for the site. Annual groundwater testing will be conducted for the life of the mine unless the <br /> requirement is reduced or eliminated through the Technical Revision process with the Division. <br /> The proposed Mining Plan states all ditches transporting water across the site will remain or will be <br /> piped across the site to allow for continued use. <br /> The Division finds the Applicant's plan shall minimize disturbances to the prevailing hydrologic <br /> balance of the affected land and surrounding area. Additionally,the Applicant shall implement the <br /> groundwater quantity and quality monitoring plans for the site as discussed above. These plans will <br />