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Due to the mining and reclamation techniques employed at these mine sites, the following cumulative impacts to the ground water regime may be expected: 1. Surface coal mining activities will affect the quantity of water recharging the Sudduth Coal aquifer. During mining, the actual recharge to the aquifer will be minimal. After mining is completed and the pits are backfilled, spoil aquifers will develop within the backfilled pits. These aquifers will provide recharge to the Sudduth Coal. Eventually it is expected that water levels within undisturbed portions of the aquifer adjacent to the mine will return to baseline conditions. 2. The water quality of the Sudduth Coal seam aquifer will be affected by recharge received from the spoils aquifer. At the Marr Strip Mine, it has been postulated that water leaching through the spoils will increase the total dissolved solids concentration in the coal aquifer adjacent to the backfilled pits. The quality is expected to improve with time as the spoils are leached, however, this timeframe has not been determined. Monitoring data collected at the Canadian Strip Mine indicates that the spoils aquifer 7DS concentration is less than that in the surrounding strata. Continued monitoring at both the Marr and Canadian Strip Nine will better define this system and the potential quality characteristics in the future. No wells are completed in the Sudduth Coal seam within the area affected by these mines, and there are no discharges from the seam which are put to beneficial use. Therefore surface mining activities will not impact any water use derived from the Sudduth Coai seam aquifer. 3.' Mining conducted by Kerr Coal on the west limb of the Johnny Moore Syyncline will not affect the quality of the ground water in the al]uvial valleys of Sudduth Draw, Bolton Draw or the Canadian River. The quantity and quality of water wells in the area will not be impacted by mining. •The only adjudicated water well in the Johnny Moore Syncline area is the well owned by Kerr Coal Company in Section 35, T9N, R78W; which is not hydraulically connected to the Sudduth Coal aquifer. In addition, reclamation activities conducted by Wyoming Fuel Company will not affect the quality of the ground water in the alluvial bodies of Bolton Draw or the Canadian River. Each operation has been designed to minimize the depletion and/or contamination of the alluvial bodies associated with these drainages. 16