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CHAPTER IV ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALTERNATIVES A. Critical Resources 1. Cultural Resources The State Historic Preservation Officer noted in a letter dated March 13, 1995, that there will be no effect to cultural resources by the proposed operations. 2. Water Supply and Quality Values The small size of the Bear underground workings and the surface facilities will limit the extent of mining impacts on the hydrologic system. The three seasonal springs in the vicinity of the Bear Mine permit area are primarily associated with sandstones in the Barren member of the Mesaverde formation, which will not be affected by subsidence fractures. No important depletion of ground water in the B seam is expected to result from mining. It is anticipated that infiltration into the subsided B seam area may occur in volumes to cause discharge into the North Fork of the Gunnison River through the B seam contact. If discharges do occur, the discharged water may be of degraded quality, especially with respect to dissolved solids, but such discharges are expected to have negligible effect on the overall quality of the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Colorado DMG has required monitoring of the B seam downdip from the workings. Surface water resources are not expected to be affected by the proposed mining plan modification. Wetland values There are no areas containing wetland values in the mining plan modification area. Floodplains, Areas of Unstable Geology, and Natural Hazards There are no areas subject to frequent flooding in the mining plan modification area. There are no slide bodies of concern in the mining plan modification area. No subsidence effects are expected to occur in the critical toe area of any of the slide bodies. Subsidence in these areas will be controlled by split pillar removal. - 11