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<br />-B- <br />In Bolton Draw, the most affected watershed, the calculated effects would <br />severely overestimate probable effects. Areas of existing disturbance have <br />already been reclaimed, or soon will be reclaimed. By the time anticipated <br />future mining in this watershed is conducted, reclamation of existing <br />disturbances will be complete, and the sediment control facilities will most <br />likely have been removed. <br />Surface Nater, Tipple Area <br />No effects on the quantity of surface flow have been identified. Runoff from <br />the permit area flows to a sediment pond before being released to the <br />irrigation ditch at the north boundary of the property. Monitoring of pond <br />effluent has not identified any of the water quality effects described for the <br />minesite. <br />During the original pennittin9 process, the effect of blowing coal dust on the <br />surrounding wetlands was identified as a water quality concern. This concern <br />resulted in the issuance of a stipulation to the original permit (See section <br />V of this Document). The pe-mittee submitted the appropriate Information <br />which alleviates this concern. <br />The probable hydrologic consequences of mining to the local surface water <br />regime are identified to be: <br />1. Degradation of water quality. The predominant ionic balance of water <br />discharging from the affected area will likely be sodium-sulfate rather than <br />the calcium-bicarbonate type water documented during baseline investigatldns; <br />2. Short-tend salt loading in the surrounding ephemeral drainages. This <br />Impact will be a seasonal concern, as the salt loading potential 1s inversely <br />proportional to streao discharge; <br />3. Temporary reductions of the quantity of rater flowing through the <br />ephemeral drainages due to sediment ponds impounding natural hors. <br />Ground Mater. Mine Site <br />The Kerr Coal operation extracts the Sudduth Coal seas on the restern liob of <br />the asymetrical Johnny Moore Syncline. The general area is faulted, and <br />streams have incised themselves into these fault zones. The Sudduth Coal <br />sub-crops under the strewn valleys. <br />Three aquifers have been identified in the Kerr Coal permit application: <br />alluvium associated with the ephemeral streams; upland terrace deposits; and <br />the Sudduth Coal sego. <br />The alluvial deposits associated rith the streams are located 1n narror bands <br />parallel to the stream channel. These deposits consist of lenticular-sand, <br />gravel and clay. The probable hydrologic consequence of mining near these <br />alluvial bodies is a change 1n the chemical composition of the unconfined <br />water in these deposits. The water type 1n the alluvium x111 mirror that of <br />