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Lewis shale, often exceed water quality standards for stock watering. Operations at <br /> the Loadout should not impact this ground water. <br /> Alluvial waters are of poor quality and may be unsuitable for use in irrigation. <br /> Leachate from coal stockpiled at the Loadout could have potentially infiltrated the <br /> alluvium and added dissolved chemical loads to the Dry Creek alluvial aquifer; <br /> however, impacts to Dry Creek alluvial water quality have been minimal due to the <br /> size of the operation and the composition of the coal. Alluvial ground water <br /> monitoring was conducted utilizing wells installed prior to 1993 by the previous <br /> operator, HG Coal Company. Well HGDALI was completed in the alluvium up <br /> gradient of the Loadout and well HGDAL2 was located down gradient of the <br /> Loadout. <br /> Based on concerns by the Division that wells HGDALI and HGDAL2 may have <br /> been completed in the Lewis shale rather than the Dry Creek alluvium, two addition <br /> wells were constructed. In October of 1993, the HGDAL3 well was constructed <br /> down gradient from the rail loop to assure that potential ground water impacts from <br /> the Loadout could be assessed and in November of 2005, while well HGDAL4 was <br /> completed up gradient from the Loadout. HGT continues to monitor HGDAL3 and <br /> HGDAL4 in accordance with the approved monitoring plan found in Tab 13 of the <br /> Permit Application. Wells HGDALI and HGDAL2 were sealed in September of <br /> 2007 in accordance with Rule 4. 07.3(3). <br /> The Lewis shale is an aquitard and should not be significantly affected by any <br /> additional waters that might contribute to the site as a result of operations at the <br /> Loadout. Water used at the site is drawn from the Yampa River alluvium. It is <br /> conceivable that waters seeping from sediment ponds and from the operations leach <br /> field may contribute additional water to Dry Creek's alluvium, but is not expected to <br /> be significant. Pursuant to Rule 2.07. 6(2)(c), the assessment of the probable <br /> consequences of the proposed mining operation and the assessment of the probable <br /> cumulative impact of all anticipated mining in the area on the hydrologic balance, as <br /> described in Rule 2. 05. 6(3), have been made. The proposed operation has been <br /> found to be designed to prevent material damage to the hydrologic balance outside <br /> the permit area. <br /> IV. Topsoil <br /> Information regarding soil resources and salvage may be found in Tab 9, Tab 17, Tab <br /> 19, Attachments 9- 1, 9- 2, 9- 3, 9- 4, and Exhibits 9- 1 and 9- 2 of the permit. <br /> A. The Loadout and railroad spur were constructed from 1977 to 1979. These facilities <br /> were previously permitted under Permit No. C- 80- 003. Topsoil was stripped from <br /> the facilities site, railroad spur, and railroad loop, and stockpiled. All suitable A <br /> horizon topsoil and some upper B horizon subsoil material was salvaged. <br /> Existing topsoil stockpiles were inventoried in November 1992 to confirm volumes <br /> 22 <br />