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<br />Short term water losses to the White River due to evaporative loss <br />from sediment ponds and pumping of water from the White River <br />Lagoon for mining and coal processing use. Projected losses deemed <br />insignificant. <br />Temporary increases in suspended solids and chemical parameters <br />associated with increased sediment load in early phases of <br />construction. Longer term impacts mitigated by sediment control <br />practices, covering waste material with minimum 2.5 feet of non <br />toxic cover, and distance of disturbed areas from surface water <br />sources. <br />Long term impact concerns with regard to subsidence related <br />dewatering of Red Wash and Scullion Gulch. Monitoring of Red Wash <br />segment over longwall panels showed that subsidence cracks were <br />quickly filled in by sediment, and the channel was not <br />significantly altered. The subsidence monitoring plan originally <br />called for monitoring of the first room and pillar area (RP1) using <br />"state of the art analytical photogrammetry." This was changed by <br />TR-40, approved in June, 1996, and plan now requires only twice a <br />year visual inspection above RP-1, with a report to be submitted <br />annually. The findings document states that mining of RP1 is not <br />scheduled in the near future, but this changed due to the mine fire <br />in January, 1996, however, and RP1 was mined during 1996/1997. <br />Ground Water <br />Only localized impacts projected, with no significant impact on a <br />regional basis due primarily to small quantity of ground water in <br />the area. <br />Ground water inflow during mining average 50 gpm, with short <br />duration flows of 100-300 gpm in areas fractured by caving of roof <br />material. After completion of mining, ground water levels will <br />slowly reestablish premising levels as the workings fill and caved <br />areas become saturated. There will be a temporary period in which <br />ground water discharge to the White River is reduced, until the <br />workings are flooded and equilibrium is reestablished. Potential <br />impacts to the White River are projected to be very minor. <br />It is uncertain whether outflow through the coal seam from the <br />flooded workings will exceed inflow. If outflow does not exceed <br />inflow, then some discharge from the mine portals (which are updip <br />in the mine) may occur. Reclamation plan calls for bulkhead seals <br />to minimize the possibility of discharge out of the portals. <br />Ground water impacts from coal refuse disposal are insignificant <br />due to relatively impermeable nature of the compacted refuse and <br />depth to ground water in the disposal area. <br />Water infiltrating fill in the portal areas should have no impact <br />on the bedrock aquifer system, though some water which infiltrates <br />the fill may discharge to Scullion gulch. Due to the limited <br />