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greater than the head exerted by the mine water. The State Engineer's records show <br />two wells have been completed in the Cliffhouse Sandstone approximately one mile <br />downgradient from the King Coal Mine workings (the V. Paulek and G. Paulek <br />wells). <br />Menefee Formation -Like the Cliffhouse Sandstone, mining impacts to the Menefee <br />Formation aze improbable because it is unlikely the workings of the King Coal and <br />King II Mines will fill with water. <br />Ground water points of compliance aze not warranted for the Hay Gulch alluvium, the <br />Menefee Formation, the Cliffhouse Sandstone, or the Point Lookout Sandstone <br />because, as explained above, the King Coal and King II Mines lack the potential to <br />negatively impact these units. <br />Surface Water Effects <br />With the exception of two small azea exemptions, all runoff from the disturbed azea at <br />the mine site will be routed through sediment ponds. Effects of mining on this water <br />will involve changes in the magnitude and duration of runoff and changes in water <br />quality. <br />The effects on water quantity are expected to be minimal. A decrease in permeability <br />due to the construction or roads and buildings can be expected to cause an increase in <br />runoff amounts. The rate of runoffwill increase over natural conditions because ofthe <br />increased efficiency of conveyance channels. However, these effects are moderated by <br />the detention of runoff in the pond and subsequent evaporation of pond water. In <br />general, only slight changes in the hydrologic balance of surface water aze expected <br />due to the underground mining operations proposed at the King Coal Mine. <br />Changes in water quality can be expected to occur as a result of mining. Increases in <br />erosion rates aze expected from the disturbance of soils and vegetation, however, these <br />aze compensated by deposition of sediment in the sediment ponds. An increase in total <br />dissolved solids (TDS) may occur from well water pumped and used for dust <br />suppression and other operational use. Evaporation of water standing in the ponds may <br />also cause an increase in TDS, although the increase above background concentrations <br />(1500-2000 mg/1) is not expected to be lazge. <br />The Division has determined that probable hydrologic effects on surface water <br />identified above will not preclude use of the water below the point of dischazge from <br />the mine. This conclusion is based on the small and infrequent flows relative to the <br />lazge amount of dilution available in receiving waters. The quality of surface water is <br />limited on site and the treatment systems should act to mitigate any adverse effects on <br />surface water. <br />18 <br />