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-2s- the total area disturbance is so small, the potential cumulative effect of the operations on surface water quantity is also negligible. Approximately 8.4 acres in Munger Canyon and 3 acres in McClane Canyon will be contained within sedimentation systems. This accounts for approximately .02 percent of the drainage area of East Salt Creek above the confluence of Munger Canyon. Obviously, the impact of the operations on surface water quantity in East Salt Creek will be negligible. The impact on water quantity will also be minimal since water retained by the structures will be discharged following settlement of suspended solids. As mentioned previously, no wells or springs have been identified in McClane or Plunger Canyons. No ground water rights have been adjudicated within a three mule radius of the mines. Neither operation will have an effect on any major aquifers during this permit term. Drilling in and around the McClane and Munger permit areas indicates that the zone zone will be dry. No ground water inflows are anticipated for either operation. There will be no need for discharge of mine water from either mine during the initial permit term. A saturated zone has been identified in the Carreo coal seam (Figure 4.4-1). The proposed mine plan indicates that this zone will only be encountered by the McClane Canyon mine workings around the eleventh year of operation. Ground water inflows into this mine will be monitored throughout the term of operation so the zone can be identified further and impacts can be projected. The mu:ne workings will approach the Cameo subcrop in East Salt Creek in years eleven to fifteen of the Munger Canyon operation (see Figure 2.1-4). Prior to this, Salt Creek Mining Company will be required to submit an application to allow the extension of the mine. At that time, sufficient data will be available to assess the potential for an effect on East Salt Creek tributary ground water. The effect of underground mine workings in Stove and Buniger Canyons on the quality and quantity of surface water in Big Salt Wash is expected to be negligible. No surface disturbances are anticipated in these canyons so there is no potential for impacting water quality (see Section VZ2, Alluvial Valley Floors, of this document). There is a potential for surface water infiltration into the mine workings via natural and mine-induced fractures. This potential is very low due to the Iow precipitation experienced by the region and because of the steep slopes over the mine workings. The coal zone to be mined has been shown to contain relatively little ground water (see Figure 2.1-4). Also, no springs have been identified in the area of Stove and Buniger Canyons. No aquifers of regional extent will be impacted by the operation. There will be no cumulative impact on ground water in the Big Salt Wash drainage as a result of the combined impact of the Munger Canyon and Dorchester Fruita operations. These mines are essentially hydrologically isolated from each other by the intervening recharge zone in Big Salt Wash. The mines will, therefore, not be impacting the same hydrologic system with regard to ground water.