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dissolved solids may increase due to soluble salts; however, this occurs naturally within the existing ground water region. The fill does not contain materials which create a toxic leachate. Water which infiltrates the fill may reach Scullion Gulch. However, due to the small area of disturbance relative to the entire drainage basin for Scullion Gulch, this will be a very minor contribution of flow in the creek. The permittee will be obtaining part of the required water supply from the White River Lagoon, as discussed eazlier. Approximately 600 gpm will be pumped from the lagoon to a head tank in the D-Portal area. This is less than one percent of the low flow of the White River. Therefore, impacts will not be significant. Recharge of the ground water is not excepted to be impacted significantly by the proposed mining operation. Most of the recharge area for the Mesaverde aquifers is outside of the mine plan area. It is possible that surface fracturing resulting from subsidence could increase recharge to the Upper Williams Fork. However, these cracks, if they occur, are expected to exist for only a short period of time before they seal up. Recharge of the White River alluvium by bedrock aquifers is not considered to be significant because of the low transmissivities of the aquifers. The permittee has estimated that total discharge could be 1.3 gpm through bedrock aquifers to the White River, which is less than a tenth of a percent of the base flow of the river. Therefore, changes in the recharge capacity of the bedrock aquifers is not expected to be a significant impact to the alluvial aquifer. The surface recharge capacity of the alluvial material in Scullion Gulch may be reduced due to the construction of cuts and fills th the portal areas. This disturired area is small relative to [he total area of Scullion Gulch and therefore impacts are expected to be very minor. Due to the presence of Kenney Reservoir, water withdrawal from the White River lagoon will not cause measurable drawdown in the alluvium at the well field site. The quantity of water which will be pumped is less than one percent of the low flow of the river. Subsidence from underground mine workings could potentially impact both Red Wash and Scullion Gulch. The effect on Red Wash is of greatest importance because it drains approximately 122 square miles at the location where mining will extend beneath it. Although predictions indicate that maximum vertical subsidence could approach six feet, large crevasses or collapse of the surface should not occur because there is approximately 600 to 1200 feet of overburden above the coal seam in that area. Furthermore, the swelling of shales and overburden from the caved roof should effectively fill the open mine cavity. An ongoing monitoring program was implemented to detect subsidence on the first longwall panel and first room-and-pillaz section 18