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the mine. <br />2. Potential Effects on Surface Water Quality <br />Information in the PAP and the 1982 Findings Document indicates that surface water quality in the <br />general azea is extremely vaziable. No adverse impacts from mining operations were projected and <br />none have been observed to date. <br />The Division's 1982 Findings Document predicted that no significant impacts on surface water <br />quality in or adjacent to the permit azea due to mining operations would occur. Water quality in and <br />neaz the permit area is highly variable, changing in response to seasonal trends and precipitation <br />events. Surface water monitoring data from the Operator's monitoring program and observations by <br />the Division have confirmed the prediction of no significant impacts to surface water quality to date. <br />The anticipated hydrologic consequences to surface water quality for the South Taylor area are; <br />Total dissolved solids (TDS) in the base flow of Good Spring Creek will increase by <br />1.6% to 13.5% for several hundred years afrer mining has been completed, with sulfate <br />the dominate ion. <br />Impact to surface water quality, specifically spoil spring development and increased salinity due to <br />leaching in the backfilled South Taylor pit area, is the most significant impact to the hydrologic <br />balance in and adjacent to the mine azea. Spoil spring development is likely in the southeast portion <br />of the South Taylor pit area, generally located in the NW 1 /4, Section 21, T3N, R93 W of the 6'h PM. <br />Degraded spoil water will move down gradient through undisturbed strata and emanate as springs on <br />the steep hillsides. Spoil springs may also develop at the "spill point" within the regraded pit area <br />and flow down to the Section 21 sediment pond, causing the pond to discharge on a seasonal, or <br />potentially, a perennial frequency. This degraded water will mix with flow in the East Fork of <br />Goodspring Creek, as represented by the surface water monitoring site EFGSC. Colowyo has <br />provided calculation of salinity increases in Goodspring Creek down gradient of the confluence of <br />the West Fork of Goodspring Creek in Section 2.05.6(3)(b)(iii) of Volume 12. Impacts to irrigated <br />azeas immediately downstream of EFGSC aze possible and are discussed the alluvial valley floor <br />section of this document. <br />3. Potential Effects on Groand Water <br />The mines operations may affect bedrock ground water of one formation, the Williams Fork <br />Formation." The Williams Fork contains the ten coal seams to be mined and is the surface outcrop <br />on the permit area. Impacts to the Williams Fork are deemed minimal because water produced from <br />coal zones is ofknown poor quality and well yields are low. These sandstones aze predominately fine <br />to medium grained, poorly sorted and calcareous. The thickness of the sandstones is estimated to be <br />1,600 feet. There is no continuous, regional ground water system on the property within the <br />stratigraphic section of the Williams Fork Formation. This was documented in the 1979 report <br />Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance 4 May 2007 <br />Permit Revision 02 Page 38 <br />