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suggest the reclaimed mine surface is more compact than the undisturbed areas; <br />however, test results are not conclusive to indicate backfilled mine area <br />• infiltration properties have been significantly affected by mining activities. <br />Sun Coal Company believes recharge characteristics will increase as the vege- <br />tated backfilled mine area matures. As vegetation becomes established, surface <br />runoff will be reduced, and the soils through vegetative growth will become less <br />compact as the vegetation becomes more dense. <br />Another aquifer associated with the study area is the Yampa River where the <br />deposits are unconsolidated river deposits and located in an area where mining <br />has not taken place. The geology and water quality of the Yampa River alluvium <br />has been summaried in Section 2.04.5. Water in the Yampa River alluvium lies <br />only a few feet below the surface and is hydraulically connected to the Yampa <br />River. No long-term changes in water quality have been monitored as a result of <br />associated coal load-out activities. The surface of the Sun Coal Company <br />• restored work yard on the south side of the Yampa River is hard and smooth and <br />has a slope of about 5 percent toward the existing NPDES approved impoundment. <br />Ground water quality in this area is not believed to have been degraded because <br />of the rapid rate of runoff. the impermeable surface of the coal yard, and the <br />existence of the sedimentation pond. <br />The facilities on the north side of the Yampa River have been terminated <br />and, therefore, will have little or no effect on the existing hydrologic balance. <br />In support of these conclusions, Table 2.04.7-3 summarizes ground water <br />quality monitoring results from sampled water from the crusher well (south side <br />of the Yampa River) and the trailer office well (north side of the Yampa River); <br />and sample results summarized in Table 2.04.7-4 (pond by crusher) were presented <br />to document infiltrating water from the small pond would not adversely affect <br /> <br />- 90 - (Rev. 5/86) <br />