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portion of the overburden aquifer in the proposed permit area will <br /> be unaffected by mining. This is because the overburden aquifer is <br /> not saturated in the area to be mined. Thus, the proposed mining <br />operation will have no effect on the recharge capacity of the <br />overburden aquifer. <br />Potential Impacts on Ground Water Quality <br />The proposed mining and reclamation activities have the <br />potential of creating changes in the ground eater quality in terms <br />of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) concentrations, ion balance, pH and <br />tonicity. The potential mechanisms of impact within the proposed <br />permit and adjacent area are: 1) bleating and removing the <br />• overburden; 2) ezpoaure of tonic, acid-or-alkalinity-producing <br />material; and 3) detention of surface eater on spoil. <br />The mechanical breakdow, removal and replacement of overburden <br />material by methods including blasting, ripping and ezcavation with <br />loaders, trucks, dozers and scrapers will increase the permeability <br />of the overburden and result in a greater surface area of the <br />overburden material exposed to eater. The increased permeability <br />and exposure of eater to surface areas of the material will cause a <br />possible increase in the TDS concentration and a change in the ion <br />balance of [he eater in the spoils ae a result of the leaching of <br />soluble constituents. Water from the spoils enters a ground eater <br />. recharge zone, and there is the possibility that increased <br />2.05 - 154 <br />