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-31- <br />Runoff from the waste disposal sites is routed through the sediment control <br />system and must meet effluent limitations. <br />Subsidence effects have the potential to impact any or all springs, seeps, and <br />ponds within the affected permit area. However, CWI has been unable to obtain <br />sufficient data to support this prediction. In order to protect water <br />resources but still allow mining, CWI has developed a preventative mine plan, <br />subsidence repair procedures, and a water replacement plan. <br />The mine plan has been designed to totally avoid mining in certain critical <br />areas where water rights exist. For example, the north extreme of East <br />Roatcap Creek will not be undermined to prevent impacts to certain water <br />rights. In areas where the overburden depth is less than 800 feet, CWI will <br />conduct limited coal extraction under streams to minimize the potential for <br />any subsidence. CWI has timed the sequence of mining to intentionally mine <br />areas over the next five years that do not contain significant and critical <br />water resources. This practice will allow CWI to mine, while at the same time <br />enable the collection of hydrologic and subsidence monitoring data. Such data <br />can then be used in later permit terms when significant water resources are in <br />question. <br />Should damage to any pipeline, spring, pond, etc. be identified as the result <br />of mining, CWI will repair the damage in accordance with their "Subsidence <br />Repair Handbook". This handbook, incorporated into Volume 3 of the <br />application, contains detailed procedures that will be implemented to repair <br />water resources and structures should they be impacted. <br />A general water replacement plan has been prepared by CWI to augment water to <br />water users while any mine related damage is being repaired. CWI has <br />demonstrated water is available and can be transported to affected water users <br />if damage occurs. Their water rights consist of both springs and ditch water <br />that could supply a variety of users. Impacts on water users will not be all <br />at once. Rather, impact will progress slowly over areas as coal is mined. <br />The operator will not be mine at times when insufficient water is available <br />to mitigate impacts. CWI also proposes to improve leaks and seeps on some <br />ditches and divert one ditch water away from the mine area to further protect <br />the rights of present water users. To protect stock and wildlife, CWI has <br />committed to maintaining a designated number of stockponds on the permit area <br />which will be protected from damage. <br />Although CWI has devised the above plans to protect water resources, they are <br />predicting no significant impacts to water users or water resources. However, <br />until data is made available to verify this, the Division must assume worst <br />case impacts. Even if subsidence effects were to appear, no significant long <br />term damage to water resources would result. As previously mentioned, CWI <br />will maintain designated ponds for stock and wildlife use. These ponds will <br />always be available to suppy water. Runoff from the affected lands in the <br />