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the discharge would not jeopardize any receiving <br /> stream standards. The amount of discharge is so low <br /> in relation to the stream flow that there will be no <br /> adverse effects to the hydrologic balance outside the <br /> permit area. <br /> Upper Refuse Disposal Area - Potential impact to <br /> local surface water hydrology will be similar to that <br /> of the Lower Refuse Disposal Area and is discussed <br /> above. However, the upper pile has not 'yet been <br /> constructed and construction is not planned for this <br /> permit term. <br /> ii. Mitigation of Surface Water Impacts - <br /> Impacts to .surface water during the five-year permit <br /> term are expected to be minimal. The operator <br /> predicts that no degradation of water quality in <br /> surface streams is expected. Drainage from the waste <br /> pile, mine water, and runoff from all disturbed areas <br /> will be passed through a sediment pond prior to <br /> discharge to the North Fork of the Gunnison River. <br /> The West Elk Mine has an extensive water monitoring <br /> plan to monitor surface water quality and quantity. <br /> West Elk is currently monitoring eleven stations. <br /> Seasonal (three times per year) water samples are <br /> taken at all surface water monitoring stations. <br /> Parameters measured include pH, conductivity, <br /> temperature, total dissolved solids, total suspended <br /> solids, total iron and total manganese. More <br /> specific details regarding MCC's water monitoring <br /> plan can be found beginning on page 2.05-57. <br /> 3 . Summary and. Findings <br /> The Division has examined the Probable Hydrologic Consequences <br /> due to mining operations for the ground water and surface water <br /> systems at the West Elk Mine. The Division finds that <br /> underground mining at the West Elk Mine will not have a <br /> significant. impact on these water systems. The mine will take <br /> the necessary measures to ensure that mining will not affect <br /> the hydrologic regime (2.07.6 (2) (c) ) . <br /> IV. Topsoil <br /> Baseline soils information can be found in Section 2 .04.9 in Volume 1 <br /> in the permit application. A suitability analyses of the topsoil was <br /> performed before the site was disturbed. in most areas topsoil quality <br /> as seedbed material. is considered moderate to good, with a few areas <br /> that are considered poor. Soil mapping and physical descriptions of <br /> the soil are based on SCS soil surveys completed for the area. <br /> The operator's topsoil salvage and redistribution plan can be found in <br /> Section 2 .05.4 . Topsoil and subsoil stockpiles are shown on Map 53 . <br /> Table 47 estimates the amount of topsoil and subsoil that has been <br /> salvaged to date. <br /> Topsoil will be removed ahead of surface disturbance activities. Any <br /> vegetative cover that would interfere with topsoil removal will be <br /> removed first. The West Elk Mine had already completed the majority of <br /> topsoil and vegetation removal when the mine facilities were <br /> constructed in 198l . Since the majority of reclamation will occur upon <br /> completion of mining, topsoil stockpiles have been designed and <br /> maintained so as to minimize wind and water erosion and to preserve the <br /> 40 <br />