Laserfiche WebLink
TAB 16 <br /> PROTECTION OF THE HYDROLOGIC BALANCE <br /> Introduction <br /> Surface mining activities to be conducted at both the Nucla Mine and Nucla East mining <br /> area, that are outlined in this revised Permit Application Package (PAP), have been <br /> planned to minimize impacts on the hydrologic balance. Mining, reclamation, and <br /> monitoring plans and data reporting have been developed to be consistent with the <br /> significant findings of the Probable Hydrologic Consequences analysis presented in Tab 17. <br /> The following discussion addresses mining, reclamation, and monitoring plans, and data <br /> reporting in the context of how they relate to ground and surface water protection and <br /> monitoring. Reference to those Tabs which contain details regarding mining and <br /> reclamation plans and practices have been incorporated. Finally, discussions on stream <br /> buffer zones, alluvial valley floors, and water rights are also included. <br /> Ground Water Protection <br /> The discussion for ground water protection has been divided into three parts: 1) ground <br /> water quality; 2) ground water quantity; and 3) ground water monitoring. <br /> Ground Water Quality. Mining practices that involve replacement of spoil material into <br /> mine pits are detailed in Tab 20, Backfilling and Grading. Topsoil and overburden <br /> handling procedures are detailed in Tab 21, Minesoil Reconstruction. These handling <br /> procedures were developed after reviewing the physical and chemical properties of the <br /> overburden, coal, and interburden in both mining areas (see Tab 6, Geology, and the <br /> section entitled Impacts of Spoil Water Quality on Ground and Surface Water Quality in Tab <br /> 17, Probable Hydrologic Consequences). In Mining Area 1 (5W Pit), class 4 material as <br /> defined in Tab 21 (p. 21-2) has limitations for ground water quality, including acidity <br /> which requires special handling to keep it elevated 10 feet above the 5W pit base. The <br /> thin, isolated bands of acidic overburden identified in the Nucla East area are situated <br /> between thick layers of overburden that exhibit a sufficient degree of neutralization <br /> potential. Analyses performed using lithologic quality information and ground water <br /> monitoring data have shown that replaced spoil material will have only a minimal, short <br /> term impact on ground water quality (see Tab 17, Probable Hydrologic Consequences). <br /> 16-1 Revised 04/11/88 <br />