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The refuse pile would have minimal impact on the water quality of North Thompson <br />• Creek. Overland flow is diverted from the refuse pile by ditches and will not <br />be contaminated. Runoff from the refuse pile is collected in a sedimentation <br />pond and does not reach North Thompson Creek, except during large precipitation <br />events and these effects have been discussed earlier. <br />The increase in TDS is a natural phenomenon which occurs continuously. The <br />increase is small and the water quality remains high. The receiving water, the <br />Crystal River, will not be impacted since it has TDS value equal to or higher <br />than North Thompson Creek. <br />The hydrological balance in North Thompson Creek is further portected by the <br />fact that future increased coal production will require additional water in the <br />mining operation. This additional water will come from water that is currently <br />discharged to the Creek by the approved permit. <br />The 5-year plan of mining for Mine Number 1 indicates an advancement of the mine <br />into the Middle Thompson Creek drainage basin. The mining activity below the <br />• Middle Thompson drainage basin is expected to have no impact upon the surface <br />water hydrologic balance of the creek. The surface structure which will exist <br />within the Middle Thompson drainage is limited to air vents. There will be no <br />entrances to the mine from the south. The advancement of the mine ends before <br />the mine passes under Middle Thompson Creek. <br />Section 3.6.1.2 "Surface Water in the Mine Area", discusses local surface water <br />quantities and quality, and a proposed monitoring program. <br />Sediment Ponds <br />Discharge from the sedimentation ponds is discussed in the previous sections. <br />The discharge will be controlled through spillways to areas protected by riprap. <br />Drawings D-4-6 through D-4-8 show details of spillway erosion protection. <br />• <br />4-114 <br />