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massive, competent sandstone. <br />Tension cracks probably did occur above the Staley-Gordon Mine, but have been <br />healed by weathering. Similaz tension cracks could cause several stock ponds in <br />the Scullion Gulch basin (within Federal Coal Leases C-8424 and C-8425) to lose <br />some impounded water. Potentially impacted stock ponds aze Lincoln Reservoir, <br />Halandras Reservoir, and Raven Pazk Reservoir. Lincoln Reservoir is located <br />over a room and pillaz panel and pillaz dimensions and extraction ration <br />consistent with that in the main entries will be employed directly under the <br />reservoir to prevent subsidence. Tension cracks chazacteristic of longwall mining <br />aze expected to occur at Halandras Reservoir and Raven Pazk Reservoir. The <br />ponds aze normally dry, but if water is present, loss of water could occur as a <br />result of damage to the dams or pond bottom that would allow seepage loss. <br />Prior to advancement of mining that could potentially impact the ponds, <br />monitoring will be initiated, and the ponds will be repaired or replaced by the <br />operator if water retention capability of the ponds is diminished due to <br />subsidence. The operator will haul in water for stock if necessary as a temporary <br />measure during pond repair or construction. <br />Similaz monitoring has been conducted on Red Wash and will be conducted on <br />Scullion Gulch prior to longwall panel advancement beneath the drainage, to <br />allow for detection of subsidence features which may require repair. <br />See the Subsidence Section of this document for further details on impacts related <br />to subsidence. <br />2. Impact of the Mining Operation on Ground Water <br />The impact of the proposed mine on ground water will be very localized, with no <br />significant impact expected on a regional basis. This is due primarily to the small <br />quantity of ground water in the azea. <br />Water encountered within the mine will be utilized underground for dust <br />suppression. As a result, only those inflows that temporarily exceed storage <br />capacities and mine use requirements would potentially be dischazged to the <br />surface and lost from the ground water system. Pumping from approved <br />minewater dischazge locations ceased upon sealing of the "D" seam northern <br />longwall district in 1996. Although dewatering could be accomplished by <br />installation of a submersible pump at Site SDH-2, such dewatering is not <br />currently anticipated. If minewater dischazge were to occur, there would be no <br />loss to the hydrologic system, since groundwater in the azea is tributary to the <br />White River. <br />Since January, 1997, prep plant thickener water has been disposed underground <br />within down-dip, sealed sections of the "D" seam mine. No discernible effects <br />--- - on surface water or ground water quality aze anticipated, although water levels <br />33 <br />