Laserfiche WebLink
The Orchard Valley mine plan is designed to minimize the impacts <br />of the project on the surface water hydrology of the region. <br />Disturbed area drainage from the mine benches, parking area, west <br />portal fill, and loadout site is collected and treated on the <br />site. Four sediment ponds collect disturbed-area drainage from <br />the mine benches. Another pond controls sediment generated by the <br />underground development waste pile. One pond controls drainage <br />from the timber storage area, and two ponds collect drainage from <br />the disturbed areas of the loadout, truck scales, and coal <br />stockpile area. The west portal area drains to one sedimentation <br />pond except for exempted portions of the fill face which have a <br />small area exemption waiver. A system of lined and unlined <br />ditches convey waters from the disturbed areas to the ponds. The <br />mine operator has applied for and/or obtained the appropriate <br />NPDES permits. Effluent quality from the sedimentation ponds will <br />be monitored to determine permit compliance. <br />Subsidence effects have the potential to impact any or all <br />springs, seeps, and ponds within the affected permit area. In <br />order to protect water resources but still allow mining, the <br />operator has developed a subsidence damage preventative mine plan, <br />subsidence repair procedures, a water replacement plan, and an <br />intensive monitoring system. <br />The mine plan has been designed to preclude mining in certain <br />critical areas where water rights exist. For example, the north <br />extreme of East Roatcap Creek will not be undermined to prevent <br />impacts to certain water rights. In areas where the overburden <br />depth is less than 800 feet, COVCC will conduct limited coal <br />extraction under streams to minimize the potential for any <br />subsidence. <br />Should damage to any pipeline, spring, pond, etc., be identified <br />as the result of mining, COVCC will repair the damage in <br />accordance with their "Subsidence Repair Handbook." This <br />handbook, incorporated into.Volume.3 of the application, contains <br />detailed procedures that will be implemented to repair water <br />resources should they be impacted. <br />A general water replacement plan has been prepared by the operator <br />to augment water to water users while any mine related damage is <br />being repaired. The operator has demonstrated water is available <br />and can be transported to affected water users if damage occurs. <br />Their water rights consist of both springs and ditch water that <br />could supply a variety of users. Impacts on water users will not <br />be all at once. Rather, impact will progress slowly over areas as <br />coal is mined. The operator also agreed to reduce leaks and seeps <br />on some ditches and has changed the point of diversion of the <br />Overland Ditch from East Roatcap Creek to West Roatcap Creek.to <br />further protect the rights of present water users. To protect <br />stock and wildlife, the operator has committed to maintaining a <br />designated number of stockponds on the permit area which will be <br />protected from damage. <br />-30- <br />