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• <br />-Rules 2.05.6 <br />-.( o <br />is Consequences and Ci <br />ti~E1Ff <br />ati ve Zmpacts Assessment <br />The McClane Canyon Mine will have very limited impact on the surface and <br />ground water hydrology of the hydrologically adjacent area. Any impacts <br />on surface water quantity and quality will be limited due to the small <br />area of the drainage impacted by the operation. Because the operation <br />may only exist for this permit term, impacts may be limited with respect <br />to time. After the area is reclaimed, the hydrologic characteristics of <br />the alluvial system will be restored. <br />The surface disturbance in McClane Canyon will have very little impact on <br />water quantity and quality of East Salt Creek. Only .0058 of the drainage <br />area contributing to the flow at the confluence of McClane Canyon and East <br />Salt Creek will be affected by the operation. The disturbance of Zess than <br />18 of the contributing drainage area is insignificant in itself and will <br />have a minimal impact on the hydrologic characteristics of the East Salt <br />Creek system. Runoff contained within the sedimentation system will be <br />insignificant with respect to flow in East Salt Creek. Water will be <br />retained within the sedimentation pond until it meets NPDES and Mined Land <br />Reclamation effluent standards. <br />Impacts on ground Water could occur in two ways; Z) through the affect of the <br />mine workings on geologic ground water and 2) through the effect of the surface <br />disturbance on alluvial ground water in East Salt Creek. rn either case, the <br />mine is not expected to have a significant effect on ground water quantity <br />or quality. _ <br />Drilling in and around the permit area has indicated that there is little <br />water associated with strata within or near the mine zone. The only signifi- <br />cant water bearing unit encountered lies approximately 200 feet below the <br />coal. A saturated area has been Located in advance of the mine and outside <br />of the permit boundary where the coal being mined does contain water. Since <br />no water should be experienced by the mine during this permit term, no <br />problems with respect to diminution of the quantity of water in any ground <br />water aquifer is anticipated. <br />The alluvial ground water system in East Salt Creek could be impacted as a <br />result of the surface disturbance in McClane Canyon. Any impact incurred, <br />however, would be a result of the effect of the mine on surface water. There <br />is no other mechanism for recharge of the alluvium which will be affected <br />by the operation. Furthermore, the potential for an effect on the alluvial <br />system as a result of alteration of the surface flow will be insignificant. <br />If the recharge of the aquifer were solely dependent on surface flow the <br />significance of the disturbed area with respect to flow in the alluvim would <br />be negligible. <br />All waters which could be potentially impacted by the operation will be <br />monitored for any adverse impacts. Surface water monitoring sites are located <br />upstream and downstream of the disturbance so that any detrimental impacts <br />will be determined. Ground water alluvial wells have been established <br />upgradient and downgradient of McClane Canyon along East Salt Creek to <br />monitor the effects of mining. Changes in flow and water quality parameters <br />will be measured at all of these monitoring sites. <br />