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-36- MLRD Specialist Carol Russell, mine inflows encountered, to date, have been small and are usually associated with faults. The mine has not encountered enough water to require discharge from their sediment pond and the mine must import water to conduct its mining operation. The inflow water, approximately 0.01 cfs, is used within the mine for fire protection and cooling. The only regional bedrock aquifer near the mine is the Tow Creek sandstone downdip of the mine and discontinuous lenticular and interbedded sandstones asociated with the Lower Coal Group. The Tow Creek sandstone will not be impacted by the mining operation. The quantity and quality of water discharging from springs associated with the overlying discontinuous sandstone aquifers may be impacted to a limited extent. The Apex No. 2 Mine will not cumulatively impact any rock aquifers associated with the other mines in the general area since this mine is the only mine in the Lower Coal Group. The surface facilities for the Apex No. 2 Mine are located in and on the alluvium of Trout Creek. This area was used by previous operators as a disposal site for mine development wastes. No additional disposal of wastes are proposed on the Trout Creek alluvium. Edna Mine The Edna Mine is a surface strip mine along the eastern dip slope of Trout Creek. The Lennox, Wadge and Wolf Creek coal seams of the Middle Coal Group are mined. Activities at the mine are degrading the quality of the water in the Trout Creek alluvial aquifer (idcWhorter, et al., 1979). Previously mined spoils have become saturated and discharged degraded water to the Trout Creek system. The resultant impact has not yet limited the use of the water along Trout Creek. However, water quality impacts will probably continue and increase with new mining in the area. This could pose a salinity hazard to subirrigated vegetation on the alluvium of Trout Creek. Ground water monitoring at the mine has been designed to detect these impacts if they become a problem. Water level impacts to alluvial and regional bedrock aquifers are not anticipated. However, it is expected that activities at the Edna mine may impact off-site ground water quality in bedrock and alluvial aquifers. The potentially affected rock aquifers are the Middle Coal Group aquifers. Eneryy No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and Eckman Park Mines The Energy No. 1 and Eckman Park strip mines are located along the southern slope of the upper reaches of Foidel Creek. The Energy No. 2 strip mine is located along Fish Creek. The Energy No. 3 strip mine is located at the confluence of 14iddle and Fish Creeks. The Energy No. 1, No. 2 and Eckman Park Mines are located along the flanks of a northerly plunging anticline which partially divides the main T~,ventymile Park Basin from the smaller sub-basin to the southeast, while the No. 3 Mine is located along the eastern flank of the main basin. The