GENERAL48878 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

to dewater old underground workings overlying the Southfield No.l Mine. The dewatering system was used to reduce the potential for mine inflows induced by the overlying workings. The operator does not have any immediate plans to dewater additional workings. However, it is possible that additional workings above the mine could be encountered that would need to be dewatered. Such dewatering would need to be approved by the Division prior to implementation and meet applicable State and Federal water quality standards. Mining will create a drawdown of the piezometric surface in and around the mine. Following the cessation mining, the underground workings will be filled with water and the piezometric surface should recover toward its original position. Historic records for the area confirm that the mines are abandoned. To assess the current and future effects of mining on the hydrologic balance, the following stipulation continues to be in effect: Stipulation No.6 THE APPLICANT WILL SUBMIT TO THE DIVISION AN ANNUAL REPORT OF INFLOWS, DISCHARGES AND CONSUMPTION OF WATER WITHIN THE MINE. THIS REPORT IS TO INCLUDE A MINE WORKINGS MAP SHOWING THE LOCATION AND QUANTITY OF INFLOWS; A TABLE KEYED TO THE MINE MAP WHICH SHALL CONTAIN THE SOURCE (IE., FAULT, FRACTURES, ETC.), QUANTITY, DURATION AND QUALITY (IE., pH, ELECTRO- CONDUCTIVITY AND TEMPERATURE) OF ALL INFLOWS; A TABLE CONTAINING RECORDS OF WATER DISCHARGED FROM THE MINE, CONSUMED IN THE MINE AND IMPORTED FOR USE WITHIN THE MINE; AND A DISCUSSION OF WATER BALANCE WITHIN THE MINE. THE INFLOW STUDY IS TO BE DONE DURING THE SPRING OF EACH YEAR WITH THE REPORT SUBMITTED BY JULY 1. The language of Stipulation No.7, pertaining to collection and reporting of hydrologic monitoring data, has been incorporated into pages 2.05.6-52 through 2.05.6-54 of the permit application, and is considered satisfied. These long-term data records are necessary to identify any pattern of water quality changes. Energy Fuels Coal Company's hydrologic monitoring plan should be adequate to plan for modification of surface or underground mining activities, if necessary, to minimize disturbances to the prevailing hydrologic balance (Rule 4.05.13.(1)(b)). The Southfield Mine workings have the potential to deplete the quantity of groundwater through mine-induced groundwater flows. The mining operation will induce inflows by dewatering the coal seam and the associated roof and floor strata as the mine workings advance. In addition, overlying aquifers could be dewatered through subsidence-related fractures. Locally perched groundwater aquifers in strata above the workings may be dewatered through subsidence cracks or fractures. Thus the 34