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-~- The Trout Cree}: Sandstone outcrops north of the hermit area, where ground water is discharged at the surface. The lfa ncos Shale underlies the Isles Formation and forms the base of the regional ground water sustem in the area. The shale is exposed at the surface north of the permit area, in the southern limb of the Axial Dasin Anticline. Due to the impe ri~i pus nature of the Ida ncos Shale, ground water in transit in either the deep bedrock units of the killiams For}: and Isles Formations, or the alluvial aguifer of Good Spring and [•lilson Cree}:s, is discharged to the streams [here it flows across the Alancos Shale. The permit area is drained by two perennial streams; C,ood Spring Cree}: to the east, and [dilson Creek to the west. Taylor Creek, an intermittent stream, flows into Filson CreeY, north of the rail loadout. Several ephemeral drainages occur on the permit area, including the Streeter Drainage. T,7e lower portion of the drainage has been relocated as a result o_` an excess overburden fill at the mouth of Streeter Canyon, near the confluence of Stz~eeter Drainage and Good Spring Creek. These drainages are tributary to !9i 1}: Cree}:, which flo[.'s into the Pampa River about 6 miles north of the permit area. Precipitation averages 18 inches annuallu on the property. Rungff is limited and the floc.~s in the drainages are mainly in response to snocmwlt or intense thunder- storm events. [9a ter sampled from the drainages is quite hard, dominated by calcium and magnesium cations and bicarbonate and sulfate anions. The relatively high alkalinitu and pH of the sustem impedes the solubility and transport of. heavy cations, thus minimizing potential tonicity problems associated [:pith heavy metals cr acid drainave. No alluvial valleu floors (AVP's) exist wi t:v:n the area to be mined. Bowe ve r, several AVF"s do exist within the proposed per~ut area and adjacent areas. The alluvial deposits of Good Spring Creek, [•lilson Creek, and lo:~er El}:horn -~ Creek meet the geomorphic and irrigation criteria of an A?%F. . The r2cion is characterized by a semi-arid steppe climate regime. :, significant portion of the nearly precipitation occurs as sroc,~ fall. Prevailing winds over the permit area are from the southwest and average E-9 Hiles per hour. sigh winds are not common, due to the protection afforded bg local terrain. The most prevalent soils et Coloc+•vo (the Burnette gad t:'or: Loa ms) are moilisols of the suborder boroll, which developed on gently sloping to rolling ridgetons, moderately steep sideslopes, and in oer.tly sloping concave narrow stream valleys. Shalloev, roc}:y soils of the order entisol occur to a limited extent within the area to be disturbed on steep, south-facing slopes. For the most part, the soils that developed on the gentle slopes and swales, including the Burnette and [;or}: Loa ms, arc deep loans anri clan loans ~.•ith physical and chemical properties that are we _'1.e~ited for revegetation. Gne soil unit ~ the Campspass Fine Sandy Loam, which occupies considerable acreage in the southern and [:~estern portions o.` the permit area, is characterized bu subsoils high in clay content. These soils, if salvaged and redistributed di rectlu on the regraded spoils, could hamper reclamation efforts due to the high rung" and erosion hazards and the slow pezmeabiZity and droughty con 6itions associated ~:•ith the fine textured sail.