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which are constructed during the permit term will be built following the Rural Electrification Bulletin No. <br />61 -10 to protect eagles and other large birds from electrocution on power lines. Figures 17 and 17a, <br />Raptor Proof Powerpole Design, shows a typical design of these powerlines. The effect to the stream and <br />riparian communities associated with the Purgatoire River and its drainages will be minimized during the <br />life of the operation. <br />Disturbance of soils and vegetation during the mine operation will be minimized. The inherent advantages <br />to underground mining will be utilized to minimize these disturbances. Surface structures and facilities <br />associated with the New Elk Mine do not occupy a significant portion of the total affected area. <br />During the collection and preparation of data to show the existing environmental resources at and <br />surrounding the New Elk Mine, the Operator has not encountered any threatened or endangered species of <br />plants or animals which will be affected by the New Elk Mine operation. <br />Bald eagles have been reported in the vicinity, but there are no known active or inactive eagle nests in the <br />mine affected area or its immediate surrounding areas. Therefore, no impact to threatened or endangered <br />species is expected. <br />The habitat associated with the Purgatoire River and its surrounding areas will be protected by the <br />Operator under the current plans. <br />Protection of Hydrological Balance <br />Probable Hydrologic Consequences <br />Probable hydrologic consequences of the mine are attributable to consumption of water to run the <br />preparation plant and control dust during mining, subsidence, surface disturbances, operation of the RDA, <br />and mine dewatering. <br />Surface disturbances at the facilities area and coal shipping operations will result in an increase in total <br />suspended solids (TSS), which will be treated by sedimentation ponds prior to discharge to the Middle <br />Fork of the Purgatoire River. Water quality impacts to the Purgatoire River and the alluvial aquifer from <br />surface operations are expected to be similar to those currently observed from the mine (i.e an average <br />increase of about 40 mg/l TDS in river water downstream from the mine, and 400 to 500 mg/1 TDS <br />increase over background in alluvium downgradient of the RDA). <br />The area overlying the mine workings has the potential to subside. -The maximum extent of subsidence <br />fracturing with increased vertical transmissivity is projected to extend 195 feet above the top of the <br />highest mined coal. A minimum thickness of 450 feet of overburden lies between the top of the Apache <br />seam and the base of area drainages. The zone of increased vertical transmissivity is not expected to <br />impact surface water. A zone of continuous deformation will be present from about 195 feet above the <br />coal to 50 feet below ground surface. No hydrologic impacts or only temporary minor changes in water <br />level are expected to occur in the continuous zone. No flow or water quality impacts are expected to occur <br />to surface water including springs and seeps due to subsidence from mining in the Allen and Apache <br />seams. <br />TR56 2.05 -58 Revised 4/11 <br />