2024-05-03_PERMIT FILE - C1980007 (2)

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2.05-79 Rev. 11/96- PR07; 04/06-PR10; 12/14- TR136, 04/24 – TR153 Monitoring of surface water to assess potential impacts of B-Seam mining will continue. No changes were made to the plan when mining was begun in the B-Seam, as the original B-Seam mining area is essentially the same as the original F-Seam 5-year permit area. The existing monitoring plan can be found in the Surface and Groundwater Monitoring Section. A technical revision to reduce hydrology monitoring was submitted in April, 1987 and was subsequently approved. Monitoring of surface water data for the water augmentation plan will continue, as will other surface water monitoring. B-Seam monitoring data, results, impacts, if any, and predictions for the following year will be incorporated into the Mountain Coal Company Annual Hydrology Reports. The reports will be on a water year basis (September 30 to October 1) as are previous reports. Monitoring data will be kept on file at the mine site. Monitoring Mining Impacts-Springs Coal mining has not historically affected the discharge rates of springs in the vicinity of the West Elk Mine. Except for localized subsidence effects and mine openings that are near steep mountain fronts or are within a few hundred feet of land surface, coal mining does not have the potential to impact discharge rates for springs in the vicinity of West Elk Mine. Even though it is unlikely that coal mining will affect spring discharge rates, it is important that flow rate measurements continue on decreed springs in future mining areas. Continued measurement is necessary because MCC may at some time in the future have to verify that possible discharge rate changes are due to either seasonal or short-term climatic factors. There has been no historical evidence that coal mining has affected the water chemistry of springs. Except for shallow groundwater systems, which may be impacted by the refuse pile, the potential for coal mining to affect the chemical character of spring discharges is extremely low. The monitoring program will be completed as presented in the Surface and Groundwater Monitoring section in 2.04.7. There are no mapped springs in the projected mine plan area or angle of draw area within 350 feet depth range of the mine workings. A depth of 350 feet is the predicted limit of B-Seam mining effects which could cause impacts under worst case (no cave develops) conditions. The distance used for F-Seam impacts was 50 times seam height or 210 feet which was conservatively rounded up to 300 feet. This factor is based on a heuristic rule, general in the international coal community (Dr. Hamid Maleki, U.S. Bureau of Mines, personal communication, 1994). No springs above these zones are expected to be affected significantly. Data, mining locations, interpretations, and predictions for the following year for B-Seam mining will be incorporated into the Mountain Coal Company Annual Hydrology Report. Spring monitoring locations are shown on Map 34. The decreed springs are shown on Map 37. Monitoring Mining Impacts-Groundwater Mining induced water level changes have been observed in some F, E, and B seam well hydrographs; however, these changes have not corresponded with influxes of water into mine workings. However, water level monitoring is important to continue, as well as in the Barren