Laserfiche WebLink
West Elk Mine <br />• Protection of Hydrolo¢ical Balance - 2.05.6 (3)(a-c) <br />The purpose of this section is to assess the probable hydrologic consequences from mining of the <br />E Seam within the South of Divide permit revision area. This includes impacts to the surface <br />water as well as the groundwater systems within the active mining area. <br />The existing surface water and groundwater resources that may be impacted aze described in <br />Section 2.04.7. Key fmdings in Section 2.04.7 include: (1) All of the streams in the permit azea aze <br />ephemeral with flows occurring only in response to snowmelt and significant rainfall events <br />(the exception is a small portion of the Deep Creek channel in Section 35); (2) The vast majority <br />of springs in the South of Divide pernut azea are located at least 400 feet above the E Seam; and <br />(3) With the exception of certain fault systems, groundwater is very limited in the active coal lease <br />area and there aze no groundwater supply wells at the mine or in the immediate vicinity that could <br />be affected by mining. There are no "aquifers" in the pernut azea that will be undernuned. <br />Hydrologic consequences that aze evaluated herein include: <br />• Disruption, loss, or relocation of ephemeral stream or spring flows <br />• Changes in ephemeral stream or spring water quality <br />• Disruption or loss of reservoir or stock pond capacities <br />• • Disruption, loss or storage of groundwater in certain formations, which could, in tum, affect <br />the limited water resources in the azea including springs and stock ponds <br />• Changes in groundwater quality as a consequence of groundwater movement from one <br />formation to another or as a result of interception and/or storage of groundwater within the <br />mine <br />• Wetland impacts <br />Information contained in the following sections demonstrates that only in limited circumstances can <br />theseprobable hydrologic consequences occur within the West Elk Mine permit area. A discussion <br />of these circumstances, their consequences, and protection, mitigation, and monitoring measures is <br />provided. <br />West Elk Mine Exaerience <br />WWE's evaluation of the probable hydrologic consequences draws heavily on information obtained <br />from current and previous mining of the F and B Seams, respectively, at West Elk Mine. As <br />described previously in the Subsidence Survey section, WWE (working closely with Messrs. Rold <br />and Dunrud) has determined that previous experience regazding subsidence and hydrologic <br />consequences for the current pemut azea, applies to the South of Divide permit revision azea as <br />~J <br />2.05-149 Revised November 1004 PRI G <br />