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Probable Effects on Ground Water Quality: <br />Bedrock Ground Water <br />The Lewis shale has low conductivity values and is generally considered to be <br />an aquitard that retards transmission of surface water to the underlying <br />regional aquifer, the Twentymile sandstone. This low conductivity results in <br />low well yields that preclude the use of waters from the Lewis Shale for other <br />than stock watering (See Seneca II-W Permit Application, Tab 7). Water <br />samples from the two existing alluvial wells at the loadout, which aze <br />completed in part in the underlying Lewis Shale, often exceed water quality <br />standards for stock watering. Operations at the loadout should not impact this <br />ground water. <br />Alluvial Water <br />Alluvial waters are also of poor quality and maybe unsuitable for use in <br />irrigation. Leachate from coal stockpiled at the loadout could potentially <br />infiltrate the alluvium and add dissolved chemical loads to the Dry Creek <br />alluvial aquifer; however, impact to Dry Creek alluvial water quality should be <br />minimal due to the size of the operation and the composition of the coal. An <br />alluvial ground water monitoring system to be put into place should serve to <br />document this conclusion. <br />Probable Effects on Ground Water Quantity: <br />The Lewis shale is an aquitard and should not be much affected by any <br />additional waters that might be contributed to the site as a result of operations <br />at the loadout. Water used at the site is drawn from Yampa River alluvium. It <br />is conceivable that waters seeping from sediment ponds and from the <br />operation's leach field may contribute additional water to Dry Creek's <br />alluvium but it is not expected to be significant. <br />Pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2)(c), the assessment of the probable consequences of <br />the proposed mining operation and the assessment of the probable cumulative <br />impact of all anticipated mining in the area on the hydrologic balance, as <br />described in Rule 2.05.6(3), have been made, The proposed operation has <br />been found to be designed to prevent material damage to the hydrologic <br />balance outside the permit area. <br />TV. TOPSOIL -RULES 2.04.9, 2,05.3(s), 2.05.4(2)(dl AND 4.06 <br />Information regazding soil resources and salvage maybe found in Tab 9, Tab 17, <br />Tab 19, Attachment 9-1, 9-2, 9-3, 9-4, and Exhibit 9-1 in the permit. <br />The Hayden Gulch Terminal loadout facility and railroad spur was constructed <br />from 1977 to 1979. This facility was previously permitted under Permit No. C-80- <br />zo <br />