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9°!~ over ambient levels. This increase would not affect anv current uses or exceed the in-stream standards <br />Detention of surrace water runoff in sedimentation ponds and related evaoomnen loss <br />Treatment of disturbed area runoff will cause a decrease in peak Flows in the Fish Creek and Foidel Creek <br />watersheds. However, any decrease due [o retention in sedimentation ponds will be more than offset by <br />increased water downstream due to mine water discharse from the underground workings. Increased levels of <br />suspended solids will be minimized due [o sedimentation ponds and NPDES effluent limitations established for <br />each point-source discharge from the mining operation. <br />Diversion of overland Flow with ditches <br />Diversions will deprive small areas of water but will not significantly reduce flows downstream <br />Induced recharge or discharse by underground mine dewaterine <br />Mine dewatering can cause changes in the natural process of stream discharge and recharge. Mine dewatering <br />and gradient reversal may cause small decreases in Fish Creek and Foidel Creek stream flows in and around the <br />mined area. Increased or modified recharge is also possible due to subsidence. Due to the small areal extent <br />and [he shale aquitards between the Wadge coal and the streams, increased recharge would likely no[ be <br />signiticant. <br />Subsidence impacts on Foidel Creek, Middle Creek, and Fish Creek <br />Subsidence of portions of Foidel Creek, Middle Creek, and Fish Creek will cause gradient changes in these <br />streams. These gradient changes will result in ponding and channel incision controlled by the streams' <br />relationship to orientation of the longwall panels and gateroads. Subsidence cracks in the near surface also <br />have the potential to disrupt the streamflow. Based on the presence offine-grained alluvial material, any <br />disruption of stream flows would be temporary. Site-specific experience from Foidel Creek resulted in a <br />complete loss of streamflow for approximately 24 hours followed by a recovery over the subsequent two <br />months. <br />See Section B, part III B of this document for more information concerning the surface and ground water <br />monitoring plan. <br />The Division has evaluated each of these impacts and finds that [he operations proposed under [he application <br />have been designed to prevent damage to [he hydrologic balance outside the proposed permit area <br />(2.07.6(2)(c)). <br />5. The Division finds that the affected area is, subject to valid rights existing as of August 3, 1977, not within: <br />a) An area designated unsuitable for surface coal mining operations (2.07.6(2)(d)(i)); <br />b) An area under study for designation as unsuitable for surface coal mining operations (2.07.6(2)(d)(ii)); <br />c) The boundaries of the National Park System, the National Wildlife Refuge System, the National System of <br />Trails, the National Wilderness Preservation System, the Wild and Scenic Rivers System including rivers <br />under study for designation, and National Recreation Areas (2.07.6(2)(d)(iii)(A)); <br />C:WHB\C82056\PROS\PR05 FINDINGS 62800.doc <br />15 <br />