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Division's assessment based upon information contained in the permit <br />application in Volumes 4, 5, and 7. <br />The Coal Basin mine plan is designed to minimize impacts on the surface <br />water hydrology of the region. Drainages from all disturbed areas are <br />routed through one or more of 21 sedimentation ponds. Based on <br />information presented by the applicant, there should be no effects on <br />surface water quality from sediment pond discharge near the mines as long <br />as the ponds are maintained. Total dissolved solids (TDS), major ions, and <br />metal contents are all similar to the receiving stream levels. However, <br />discharge from the sediment ponds near the preparations plant will <br />increase TDS and metallic cation concentrations in Coal Creek. Discharge <br />from the sediment ponds at the preparations plant increases the soluble <br />salt content by an average of 8 mg/l. Likewise, sediment pond discharges <br />from below the tunnel rock pile and the proposed Sutey disposal site will <br />increase TDS and metallic cation concentrations in Coal Creek. <br />The total suspended solids are lower than the receiving stream. This will <br />not lower water quality. The release of sediment deficient waters into <br />Coal Creek should not create any additional downcutting due to coarse <br />alluvium. [Emphasis supplied.] <br />There is no question that the WQCD 1988 Permit (MCR Ex. 5 -F, Record <br />000500 -0057) addresses the same series of ponds as the MLRD permit. In the <br />Rationale section of the WQCD Permit, the facilities are described, incorrectly, as <br />follows, id., Rationale p. 3: <br />Table 1 Discharge Point Summarization <br />Discharge Design Receiving Source Flow Number of Pond Storage <br />& Location Flow (atom) Stream of Water Duratioq Ponds (acre -feet) <br />016 25 Dutch Creek Storm & Mine Seas /Int 5 12.4 <br />Rock Tunnel Ponds and No. 1 Mine (Dutch Creek Mine) <br />And, in the Rationale, p. 7 fn. d: <br />d1 Applicable for the mine water discharges. The one exception for <br />these discharges is outfall 016, which receives both mine water from the <br />No. 1 Mine (Dutch Creek Mine) and surface stormwater entering into the <br />Rock Tunnel Ponds. Since flow to the pond [sic] for outfall 016 is in part <br />27 The number of ponds authorized for construction by MLRD was 5; however, only 3 <br />were necessary, actually constructed and in place. See illustrative sketch, Brief Exhibit -1. <br />Mid - Continent Answer Brief <br />- 31- Appeal No. 93 CA 297 <br />