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Very little ground water was encountered during exploratory drilling and around the permit area. Grand Valley Coal Company does not expect to have discharge mine water as a result of consistent inflow into the mine. Some depletion of surface water by infiltration into the mine workings through natural and mine-induced fractures may occur. The amount of depletion would be minor due to the steep local topography and low precipitation. The slope varies from 2v:lh to 6v:lh. The very low amount of surface water runoff that does occur is concentrated in periods of snowmelt and thunderstorm events. These events produce short duration, high volume runoffs which, when coupled with the steep topography, greatly favors surface water runoff over the infiltration of water. No wells or springs were identified in Munger Canyon and no ground water rights have been adjudicated within athree-mile radius of the Munger Canyon Mine. There is, therefore, no potential for damage to the quality and quantity of ground water in the mine plan and general azeas. The Loma loadout is situated within the D&RGW Railroad right-of--way. It occupies an azea historically used for loading sugaz beets onto railroad cazs. The azea of the loadout is approximately 5.6 acres. All surface water from the loadout will be contained on-site. Due to the low precipitation experienced in the area (8.8 inches annually), minimal accumulations of runoff at the site aze expected. Due to the small azea and low precipitation, little effect on the local hydrologic balance is anticipated. There are also no operations in the azea of the loadout that would produce a cumulative effect on the hydrologic balance (the facility is approximately nine miles from any mines). Surface water is monitored upstream and downstream of the disturbance of the Munger Canyon drainage and along East Sait Creek above and below the confluence with Munger Canyon. Monitoring locations are shown on Figure 2.3-5 of Volume VII of the permit. Alluvial ground water will be monitored downgradient of the proposed waste disposal pile in Munger Canyon and in the Salt Creek alluvium upgradient and downgradient of the proposed central facilities azea and coal processing waste pile. Any ground water inflows into the mine workings will be monitored to determine quantity, quality and source of the ground water. The monitoring program will indicate if any change in surface water and ground water quantity and quality occur as a result of the operation. Once coal production has ceased, the disturbance will be regraded, topsoiled and revegetated. After successful reclamation is achieved, the hydrologic functions of the area will be restored. 36