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Section 780.21 (b) Continued. The removal and replacement of overburden material with scrapers will not only increase the permeability of the overburden, but will result in a greater surface area of the overburden material exposed to water. The increased permeability and exposure of water to in- creased surface areas of the material can create a potential for leaching, a possible increase in the TDS concentration, and a change in the ion balance of the water in the spoils. If water from these spoils comes in contact with a ground water aquifer recharge zone, there is the possibility that increased quantities of dissolved solids can enter the ground water aquifer, elevate its TDS concentration and change its ion balance. Impoundment of water on top of spoils can increase the amount of water available for leaching through spoils. This can cause an increase in the TDS concentrations and a change in the ion balance of water within the spoils which could possibly enter a ground water aquifer. A detailed discussion on leaching and the effects of mining on ground water quality is presented in Section 780.21(c). Activities and structures at the Kerr Tipple Area do not penetrate the alluvium due to the fact that no mining or excavation occurs at the tipple. As a consequence, the alluvial aquifer at the Kerr Tipple Area will not be dewatered, as demonstrated in Section 779.15. I • Methods of Pt6tection'and Mitigation. I Exploration holes used as water monitor wells are cased with plas- tic perforated pipe as described later in this Section. All explo- ration holes not used for monitoring will be sealed to prevent transfer of water between surface and ground water systems. Seal- ing will be accomplished by setting a drill hole plug in the hole and filling the hole with drill cuttings to the surface. The use of drill cuttings as fill material is preferable to other materials 780-103