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G. Transfer of Wells <br />At the conclusion of mining, the two wells used in the operation will be transferred <br />back to the owners at the written request of the surface owners (4.05.14). <br />H. Discharge of Water into an Underground Mine <br />No surface water will be discharged into the underground mine workings (4.05.15). <br />I. Probable Hydrological Consequences <br />The Hay Gulch alluvial valley floor (AVF) has been identified as an aquifer in the <br />study area. The Blue Flame Coal and La Plata No. 1 Mines have been reclaimed <br />and any impacts to the Hay Gulch aquifer would be insignificant . Sediment control <br />structures at the King Coal Mine have been designed to minimize, to the extent <br />possible, impacts to the alluvial aquifer. The sediment ponds at the National King <br />Coal operation has discharged into the AVF only one time and this was after a severe <br />thunderstorm that exceeded the 100 year event in less than one hour. The sediment <br />ponds at the King Coal Mine have been designated to control the runoff from a <br />10-year, 24-hour storm event. No discharge is expected from any of these ponds due <br />to a storm event of lesser magnitude, or as a result of snowmelt. Furthermore, <br />monitoring of the alluvial aquifer down gradient form the National King Coal <br />operation, indicates that the quality of the alluvial aquifer is not being diminished by <br />coal mining operations. Alluvial water quality monitoring programs committed to <br />by National King Coal will help delimit the potential for future impacts to this <br />alluvial system. <br />Based on the results of hydrological monitoring during the past five years, the <br />hydrologic characteristics of [he Hay Gulch alluvial aquifer, and to [he manner in <br />which the mining operations are, or proposed to be, conducted, it has been <br />determined that no significant cumulative hydrologic impacts to the alluvial aquifer <br />will occur. <br />Pursuant to C.R.S. 34-33-114(2)(C), the Division has assessed the probable <br />cumulative hydrologic impacts to the ground water and surface water basins defined <br />in this document, from permitted and anticipated mining operations. The Division <br />finds that the King Coal operations had been designed to prevent material damage <br />to the hydrologic balance outside the permit area. <br />Surface Water Effects <br />All runoff from the disturbed area at the mine site will be routed through the two <br />sediment ponds. Effects of mining on this water will involve changes in the <br />magnitude and duration of runoff and changes in water quality. <br />15 <br />