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The remainder (majority) of the inflow is believed to originate from <br />storage in saturated portions of the Cameo seam. Discharge from this <br />coal seam is insignificant in comparison with the quantity of water <br />stored in the general area of the Cameo seam or with the recharge <br />capacity into this coal seam. The Cameo seam subcrops into the alluvial <br />aquifer along East Salt Creek approximately two miles north of the <br />McClane Canyon Mine. <br />The quality of water discharged from the McClane mine is generally the <br />same or better than water quality in East Salt Creek at the confluence <br />with McClane Creek. Therefore, water discharged from the mine will not <br />have any detrimental impact on the water quality of the East Salt Creek <br />AVF. <br />A second potential impact of the operation on the quality of water within <br />the East Salt Creek AVF is through the introduction of suspended solids <br />into runoff from the disturbed area. <br />Runoff generated from the disturbed surface of the mine will be contained <br />within a sedimentation system. Undisturbed flow from upland areas will <br />be diverted around the disturbance and will be unaffected by the <br />operation. <br />The sediment system is designed to minimize the contribution of suspended <br />solids to runoff from the disturbed areas. Water will flow through a <br />system of ditches and culverts into a sediment pond. The sediment pond <br />is designed to detain the runoff for a sufficient period to allow <br />sediment to settle out prior to routing the flow back into the natural <br />drainage. At no time will there be more than two acre-feet of water <br />stored in the pond. Discharge from the pond must meet NPDES effluent <br />standards. There will be no significant adverse effect on water quality <br />resulting from this operation. <br />The operation therefore, will not diminish the quantity or quality of <br />water in the East Salt Creek alluvial aquifer during this permit term. <br />Therefore, pursuant to 2.06.8(5)(ii), the Division finds the proposed <br />operations will not materially damage the quantity and quality of water <br />in surface and underground water systems that supply those alluvial <br />valley floors or portions of a]luvial valley floors. <br />Alluvial Valley Floor Findings With Regard to Preserving Essential <br />Hydrologic Functions- <br />The potential for any effect on surface water quality and quantity in <br />East Salt Creek was discussed above. Even though the potential for <br />impact is minimal, Salt Creek Mining Company has proposed to establish a <br />monitoring network to verify these projections and which would identify <br />detrimental effects if they were to occur. This monitoring network is <br />established to detect changes in surface and ground water within the <br />alluvial valley floor. <br />-15- <br />