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The quantity of inflows which have been observed to date and aze projected upon resumption of mining in future permit terms are considered to be insignificant with respect to effects on flow in the ephemeral surface drainages, or with respect to rechazge of the coal seam. Based on information provided in the permit application, ground water intercepted by the mine does not appeaz to be in communication with any aquifers being put to beneficial use, and there aze no registered wells within two miles of the permit boundary. The quality of water discharged from the mine is similar or higher quality than water in East Salt Creek at the confluence with McClane Creek, and any dischazge is required to meet NPDES discharge standazds. For these reasons, no detrimental impact to ground, water resources or to surface water quality downstream of the permit azea is expected. Original ground water flow patterns in the mined area will ultimately be reestablished after the mine is sealed and the abandoned workings slowly fill with water. An alluvial aquifer has been identified along East Salt Creek. Monitoring wells established in the alluvium indicate that alluvial water levels fluctuate seasonally in response to flow in East Salt Creek. Data collected by the applicant from the Salt Creek alluvial aquifer indicate a cazbonate- sulfate type water, similaz to the chazacteristics of the surface water in the system as would be expected. No effects to alluvial ground water quality or quantity are anticipated. Surface Water Fffects McClane Canyon is an ephemeral drainage which is normally dry. Flows that do occur aze in response to snowmelt or intense rainstorms, and aze usually of short duration. McClane Canyon drainage is tributary to East Salt Creek, which is an intermittent tributary of the Colorado River. Water quality is typical of arid climate, ephemeral and intermittent systems located in marine deposited sedimentary land forms. Dissolved constituents often reach very high levels following dry periods and during the winter, when stream flows aze made up ahnost entirely of recharge from ground water and from stagnant or semi-stagnant pools. Suspended solids levels are high during spring runoff and following high intensity rainstorms, due to sparse vegetation and erodible soils. Due to the limited azeal extent of surface disturbance, existence of effective sediment control measures, and small quantity and acceptable quality of projected minewater dischazge, operations at McClane Canyon have had little effect on the quality of water in McClane Canyon drainage or East Salt Creek, and no significant effects are expected. A full suite analysis of mine discharge water presented in Table 6 of the 2002 AHIi shows a total dissolved solids (TDS) value of 1810 mg/I, compared to TDS values of 3000 to 4000 mg/1 documented for East Salt Creek, at monitoring sites SW-1 and SW-8, in Table 4 of the AHR. Following the conclusion of mining, all culverts and diversions will be removed, and a network of ephemeral drainages in geomorphic balance with adjacent azeas will be reconstructed on the disturbed azea. Following successful vegetation establishment it is expected that surface water hydrologic characteristics of the reclaimed area will approximate pre-mining conditions. III. TOPSOIL Soils resource information, including soil series descriptions, and evaluation of mine bench materials for use as plant growth medium is provided in Section 4.4 of the permit application. Information on topsoil management is provided in Sections 2.3 and 3.2, and information on topsoil 18