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i' __ __ _ 4..._ _.. - ' <br />-4- <br />come in contact with natural ground water, degraded water quality may <br />result. Ttie reclaimed spoils left by the one surface mine (GEC} may also <br />produce a leachate water. Similar effects as those described above could <br />be expected from this leachate. In all likelihood,this impact has been <br />occurring 1:or many years as a result of the many unreclaimed mines in <br />the area. There is no available pre-mining water quality data to compare <br />with the e:<isting water quality. Therefore, it is impossible to quantify <br />the magnitude of the water quality impact that has occurred. Many <br />researchers have found that these water quality impacts can be greatly <br />minimized :if reclamation is successful. If adequate revegetation occurs, <br />resultant higher evapotranspiration rates reduce the amount of infiltration; <br />thereby reducing the amount of leachate produced. Almost none of the <br />previously mined areas have been revegetated. As a result, infiltration <br />rates are probably much higher than those on the adjacent undisturbed <br />areas. Under Permanent Program Rules and Regulations, all mines are now <br />required to adequately revegetate disturbed lands. This should significantly <br />minimize the magnitude of the potential water quality impact. Therefore, <br />no significant additional water quality impacts, as a result of the <br />current mining operations, are anticipated. <br />In summary, it is unlikely that the current and proposed mining activities <br />will.:significantly impact the natural hydrologic balance beyond background <br />levels produced by previous mining activities. Because of the lack of ' <br />pre-mining hydrologic data, it is impossible to quantify the magnitude <br />of the impact that has already occurred. However, if adequate hydrologic <br />monitoring is carried out, a better understanding of impacts due to the <br />current and proposed mining operations will result. During the Permanent <br />Program permitting process, all of the active mines should be required to <br />implement adequate hydrologic monitoring programs. This will better enable <br />the Division to make the required hydrologic regulatory decisions for future <br />mining proposals. <br />cc: D. Shelton <br />E. Bischoff <br />/ep <br />