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Due to the small area and low precipitation, little effect on the local <br />hydrologic balance is anticipated. There are also no operations in the <br />area of the loadout that would produce a cumulative effect on the <br />hydrologic balance (the facility is approximately nine miles from any <br />mines). <br />Surface water is monitored upstream and downstream of the disturbance of <br />the Munger Canyon drainage and along East Salt Creek above and below the <br />confluence with Munger Canyon. Monitoring locations are shown on <br />Figure 2.3-5 of Volume VII of the permit application. Alluvial ground <br />water will be monitored downgradient of the proposed waste disposal pile <br />in Munger Canyon and in the Salt Creek alluvium upgradient and <br />downgradient of the proposed central facilities area and coal processing <br />waste pile. Any ground water inflows into the mine workings will be <br />monitored to determine quantity, quality and source of the ground water. <br />The monitoring program will indicate if any change in surface water and <br />ground water quantity and quality occur as a result of the operation. <br />Once coal production has ceased, the disturbance will be regraded, <br />topsoiled and revegetated. After successful reclamation is achieved, the <br />hydrologic functions of the area will be restored. <br />IV. Topsoil- Rules 2.04.9, 2.05.3(5), 2.05.4(2)(d) and 4.06 <br />Information dealing with baseline soil characteristics and depths <br />available for reclamation in the portion of the operation located in <br />Munger Canyon are located in Sections 2.4, 3.2, 3.4 and 4.7 of Volume I <br />of the application. Baseline soil information and salvage and <br />redistribution plans for the central facilities area and coal processing <br />waste disposal area can be found in Sections 2.5, 3.1, and 4.4 of <br />Volume VI and on Figures 2.5-1s and 4.4-2s of Volume VII of the <br />application. <br />No topsoil was stripped prior to the disturbance which presently exists <br />at the mine. Construction of the road consisted primarily of widening an <br />existing farm road and cutting into a steep sideslope. This extension of <br />the road, as well as development of the existing face-up occurred in an <br />area of thin soils along steep slopes. A combination of these steep <br />slopes and thin soils made topsoil salvage difficult. <br />Soils were mapped at an order I to II level of intensity in the area to <br />be disturbed and order III in other proximate areas (see Figure 4.7-2, <br />Volume II and Table 4.4-2s Volume VI of the application). These soils <br />were classified to the series and subgroup level, respectively. <br />The soils which will be disturbed by the proposed operation include <br />Billings saline complex, Fruita sandy loam, Glendive loam, Havre loam, <br />Nihill loam, Rivra gravelly loam variant and Torriorthent rock outcrop <br />complex. These soils range from loam to sandy loam texture. Values for <br />pH range from 7.2 to 9.0, with the higher value occurring below 33 inches <br />in the Billings saline complex. Sodium adsorption ratios (SAR) ranged <br />from .2 to 57.3 with the higher SAR in the Havre loam below a depth of 8 <br />inches. Boron was measured and ranges from .l to .7 mg/1. <br />-30- <br />