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<br /> <br />• Total suspended particulates (TSP) from the proposed expansion should not <br />exceed present maximum levels because there will be no increase in coal <br />production over the 3.9 million tons being mined currently. <br />Under the PSD permit, Energy Fuels is required to use a variety of measures to <br />control fugitive dust. These measures are now being used and include watering <br />haulroads; applying a chemical stabilizer to haulroads; removing any coal, <br />rock, soil, or other dust-forming debris from haulroads; restricting haul <br />trucks to speeds of 35 miles per hour; seeding and mulching new haulroad <br />embankment slopes; equipping all crushing, screening, and conveying operations <br />at Energy tipple 2 and coal transfer points on the conveyance with water <br />spraying systems; installing bag houses on primary and secondary crushers of <br />the sample house at Energy tipple 2; and using a stacking tube at the <br />100,000-ton crushed coal stockpile. If coal dust becomes a problem from the <br />storage piles (opacity cannot exceed 20Y.), Energy Fuels plans to use a <br />high-pressure water pump and nozzels to spray the coal. <br />Energy Fuels will reclaim disturbed land contemporaneously with mining as <br />another. method to control fugitive dust (topsoil will be revegetated to <br />minimize erosion). In addition, an air-quality monitoring network designed to <br />meet EPA and OSM standards will be set up to monitor TSP and thereby monitor <br />the effectiveness of the fugitive-dust control plan. Currently, the network <br />consists of 5 high-volume TSP samplers around the permit area. OSM is <br />requiring Energy Fuels to install a sixth sampler or to move an existing <br />sampler to an upwind position south-southwest of the Eckman Park area prior to <br />• mining. <br />Impacts to the environment will continue to occur even with pollution <br />controls. Fugitive-dust emissions will increase slightly because of longer <br />haul roads from Eckman Park to the tipple at mine 2. Visibility in the Eckman <br />Park area will also be impaired. In addition, there will be an unquantifiable <br />effect on vegetation and wildlife. These impacts are short-term (life of <br />mine) and if Energy Fuels follows present fugitive-dust control plans, no <br />further impacts to air quality should occur. <br />Hydrology <br />Ground water <br />The proposed mining operation in the Eckman Park area would destroy the <br />confined overburden aquifer. This aquifer is presently considered poor for <br />domestic water but is used for livestock and irrigation purposes within the <br />Twentymile Park ground-water basin. <br />There is an alluvial valley floor within the permit area. However, it will be <br />protected by a 200-foot buffer zone required by BLM in the lease <br />stipulations. Based on its analyses, OSM has concluded that there will <br />be no adverse impacts to the alluvial valley floor and that no disruption of <br />important hydrolcgic functions will occur from the proposed mining operation. <br />(See OSM technical analysis for further details.) <br />C <br />- 9 - <br />