Laserfiche WebLink
<br />III. Hydrologic Balance -Rule 4.05 <br />A. Assessment of Probable Hydrologic Consequences of Mining <br />The probable effects of the mining operation upon the groundwater regime <br />are projected to be negligible. The mine is hydrologically isolated from the <br />surrounding area by faults. The minor amounts of water flowing from the <br />working face are pumped to the bottom of the slope and flow into the <br />abandoned Nu Mine workings. The groundwater then exits the caved Nu <br />Mine adit and flows into a series of two stock ponds. It is unlikely that any <br />excess water would flow from these ponds because of their size relative to the <br />small amount of flow. In the event the water did flow from the ponds, it <br />would flow through a vegetated channel into Carbon Creek, a tributary of <br />Ohio Creek. Any water entering Carbon Creek is projected to have no <br />adverse effects on water quality because the water leaving the Nu Mine adit <br />meets all required effluent standadds. The water exiting the Nu Mine adit <br />continues to be monitored to insure that no adverse effects are occurring. <br />The probable effects of the mining operation upon surface water are also <br />projected to be negligible. All surface drainage from the disturbed area is <br />contained by the sediment control system. Discharge from the sediment pond <br />would flow through a vegetated Swale at non-erosive velocities. It is unlikely <br />that any water discharge from the sediment pond would reach Ohio Creek <br />due to the small amount of flow and because water would infiltrate into the <br />moderately permeable soils within a short distance. If the dischazge water did <br />reach Ohio Creek, the effects would be negligible because the quantity of <br />discharged water is small in comparison with the average flow of Ohio Creek <br />and the discharge will have met the required effluent standards. <br />Pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2)(c) and based on all available information, the <br />Division finds that the operation has been designed to prevent material <br />damage to the hydrologic balance outside the permit area. <br />B. Water Quality Standards and Effluent Limitations <br />1. This mine has a single sediment pond that is operated under an <br />NPDES permit. This pond has never discharged during the life of the <br />mine. This pond has been designed so that when it discharges the <br />effluent will meet the effluent limitations of 4.05.2 and the applicable <br />State and Federal water quality requirements for downstream receiving <br />waters. No exemptions are required for this section. <br />O.C. Mine No.2 Findings 22 May 15, 1992 <br />