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Creek water is marginal or unsuitable for use as domestic or irrigation <br />water, this projected increase in salinity will not affect any uses of Grassy <br />Creek water. The only current use of Grassy Creek water (livestock <br />watering) will not be impaired by the projected increase in salinity. <br />Sage Creek <br />Life-of-mine plans for the Yoast Mine anticipate coal extraction within the <br />Sage Creek watershed during the second and third permit terms. <br />Preliminary estimates by Seneca Coal Company indicate that TDS <br />concentrations in Sage Creek downstream from Yoast spoil springs may <br />increase from 641 to 2118 mg/l. <br />With the submittal of PR-01, SCC further evaluated the probable <br />hydrologic consequences of Yoast mining operations in the Sage Creek <br />watershed. This evaluation occurred prior to any mine related disturbance <br />in that watershed. <br />Based on SCC's evaluation, the Division finds that although SCC has <br />predicted that salinity levels in Sage Creek may exceed the Division's <br />conductivity threshold of 1.0 mmho/cm, the effects to <br />ranching/agricultural operations along Sage Creek are deemed to be <br />insignificant. The Division finds that the coal mining operation would not <br />interrupt, discontinue, or preclude farming on the potential alluvial valley <br />floors that have been identified along Sage Creek, downstream from the <br />mining operation. The Division's findings in regard to impacts to alluvial <br />valley floors are presented in Section B, X of this document. <br />SCC projected electrical conductivity values for Sage Creek in excess of <br />the suspect level for material damage in the original Yoast application. <br />SCC presented analyses of impacts of elevated conductivity levels in <br />terms of material damage in PR-01. The Division agrees with SCC's <br />analyses and finds that the Yoast permit application package now complies <br />with Rule 2.07.6(2)(c) & (k) which was the subject of Stipulation No. 7. <br />The Division also finds that the permit application package now complies <br />with Rule 2.06.8(4), which was the subject of Stipulation No. 9. <br />Therefore, Stipulation Number 7 & 9 have been complied with and <br />removed. <br />IV. Topsoil <br />Baseline soils information is found in Tab 9 of the permit application package. <br />Mine soil reconstruction is discussed in Tab 21. <br />All available, suitable topsoil will be salvaged from areas to be disturbed by <br />mining and either stored in a stockpile or immediately redistributed on regraded <br />Yoast Mine 29 December 15, 2010