APPCOR13250

• Permit No: C1983059
• IBM Index Class Name: Application Correspondence
• Doc Name: Proposed Decision Letter & Findings Document
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

-14-
Loadout operations on the colluvial slope will not physically impact
farming operations on the alluvial flood plain below. Ground water is
not present to the colluvium to the permit area and surface water from
above will be diverted around the disturbed area. No future Impact which
might interrupt, discontinue, or preclude farming on the flood plain is
proposed. Thus, operations at Terror Creek would not interrupt,
discontinue, or preclude farming on previously undisturbed portions of
the alluvial valley floor.
2. Pursuant to Rule 2.06.8(5)(a)(i)(A)(II), the Division finds that
the proposed surface coal mining operations would not materially
damage the quality and quantity of. water to surface and
underground water systems that supply those alluvial valley
floors or por`tlons of alluvial valley floors.
Given the small size (13 acres) and nature of the disturbance, no
significant hydrologic impacts are anticipated. There is minimal
potential for the quality or .quantity of water supplied to the alluvial
valley floor via the Deer Trail Ditch or the Fire Mountain Canal to be
affected.
The canals are located upslope from the disturbed area. Irrigation
runoff and storm runoff will be diverted around the disturbance and
disturbed flows will be routed through a sediment pond prior to
discharge. The applicant has obtained water rights to Deer Trail Ditch
water totalling 300 acre feet per year and anticipates an operational
need of approximately 44 acre feet per year. Fourty-four acre feet is
approximately .Ol'~ of the mean annual flow of the North Fork.
The applicant's discussion of probable hydrologic consequences has
identified no anticipated changes 1n surface water quality. All runoff
from disturbed surface areas will drain through an approved sediment
control system. No material damage to the quality of surface waters
supplied to the alluvial valley floor is anticipated, due to sediment
control at the site and the fact that the ditch which supplies the AVF is
located upslope of the disturbance.
There 1s a slight potential for water quality degradation to occur in the
alluvial aquifer immediately down gradient of the Loadout pad as a result
of percolation of degraded water through the colluvium. This potential
is considered insignificant for the following reasons. First, the small
amount of degraded percolation water that would infiltrate would be
rapidly diluted by existing water 1n the system. The amount of
percolation water would be minimized by the small size of the
contributing drainage area (less than 15 acres) and the fact that the
compacted surface of the pad will favor runoff over infiltration.
Second, the potential impact will be relatively short term in duration.
Once operations are completed, the coal stockpile and sediment pond will
be reclaimed and the potential for water quality degradation will cease
to exist.
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