Laserfiche WebLink
-24- <br />No wells or springs were identified in Munger Canyon and no ground water rights <br />have been adjudicated within a three-mile radius of the Munger Canyon Mine. <br />There is, therefore, no potential for damage to the quality and quantity of <br />ground water aquifers in the mine plan and general areas. <br />The Loma loadout is situated within the D&RGW Railroad right-of-way. St <br />occupies an area historically used for loading sugar beets onto railroad cars, <br />The area of the Ioadout is approximately 5.6 acres. <br />All surface water from the loadout will be contained on-site. Due to the Iow <br />precipitation experienced in the area (8.8 inches), minimal accumulations of <br />runoff at the site are expected. The loadout will not be used for an extended <br />period of time. Production from the McClane Canyon and Munger Canyon mines is <br />anticipated to increase to the point that a greater capacity facility will be <br />required. <br />Due to the small area, low precipitation and short life of the facility, little <br />effect on the local hydrologic balance is anticipated. There are also no <br />operations in the area of the loadout that would produce a cumulative effect <br />on the hydrologic balance (the facility is approximately 9 miles from any <br />mines). <br />Surface water will be monitored upstream and downstream of the disturbance of <br />the Munger Canyon drainage and along East Salt Creek above and below the conflu- <br />ence with Munger Canyon. Alluvial ground water will be monitored downgradient <br />of the proposed waste disposal pile in Munger Canyon and in the Salt Creek <br />alluvium upgradient and downgradient of the confluence with Munger Canyon. <br />Ground water inflows into the mine workings will be monitored to determine <br />quantity, quality and source of the ground water. The monitoring program will <br />indicate if any change in surface water and ground water quantity and quality <br />occur as a result of the operation. <br />Once coal production has ceased, the disturbance will be regraded, topsoiled <br />and revegetated. After successful reclamation is achieved, the hydrologic <br />functions of the area will be restored. <br />Cumulative Impacts Assessment <br />The impacts due to the McClane Canyon and Munger Canyon mines will act cumula- <br />tively on the East Salt Creek hydrologic system. Impacts related to the Munger <br />Canyon Mine underground workings in Stove and Buniger Canyons will potentially <br />interact cumulatively with impacts produced by the Ibrchester Fruita l9ines in <br />Big Salt Wash. The anticipated total effect of all operations on the local <br />hydrologic balance is minimal. <br />The total combined surface disturbance of the McClane Canyon and Munger Canyon <br />operations is slight with respect to the drainage area of East Salt Creek. Only <br />.06 percent of the total drainage area of East Salt Creek at the confluence of <br />Munger Canyon (67,228 acres) will be impacted by both operations (42.7 acres). <br />Even though the operations will locally increase concentrations of total dissolved <br />solids, the potential for the dilution of total dissolved solids is obviously <br />great, and the total suspended solids will be controlled by sediment ponds. Since <br />