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Section 780.21(c) Continued. <br />Rule 2.05.6(3) <br />Revised 12/3/80 <br />a spring as documented by the existence of riparian vegetation <br />growing in the old mine cut. The spring discharges from the <br />Sudduth coal seam into Sudduth Draw. Past mining activities have <br />affected the quality of surface water in Sudduth Draw. Samples <br />taken during the 1980 spring runoff in Sudduth Draw were analyzed <br />to determine baseline water quality upstream (at sample site 312) <br />and downstream (at sample site 311) from the abandoned mine. <br />Sample site locations are shown on Map 16, Kerr Mine Area Surface <br />Water Hydrology. Based upon data from analyses of samples taken on <br />May 7, 1980, the following parameters indicate the influence of the <br />spring on water quality: temperature increased downstream from 11 <br />to 13 degrees C, pH was more alkaline downstream from 7.1 to 7.6, <br />electrical conductivity increased downstream from 100 to 400 umhos/ <br />cm, total dissolved solids increased downstream from 108 to 372 <br />mg/1, total suspended solids decreased downstream from 37 to 20 <br />mg/1, magnesium increased downstream from 6 to 25 mg/1, and sulfate <br />increased downstream from 7 to 55 mg/1. The increase in dissolved <br />constituents is attributed to the influx of saline water from the <br />spring. <br />The abandoned Sudduth Mine marks the northernmost progression of <br />mining activities under the proposed mine plan. The ultimate <br />effect of mining will be to eradicate the spring and the abandoned <br />Sudduth Mine. Elimination of the spring will have a negligible <br />effect on the quantity and quality of water in Sudduth Draw. The <br />estimated discharge of the spring is less than one gallon per <br />minute. As discussed previously, the salinity of the spring dis- <br />charge has an effect on the baseline water quality of Sudduth Draw. <br />Without the spring, the salt load in runoff from Sudduth Draw would <br />return to baseline levels. Therefore, elimination of the spring in <br />the abandoned Sudduth Mine will have a minimal effect on the hydrol- <br />ogic balance in the proposed permit and adjacent area. <br />780-126 bbb <br />