2012-12-20_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981038

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overland ditch will divert water into West Roatcap Creek thus bypassing the Bowie No. 1 West Mine site. Clean water diversions above the main facilities minimize surface water runoff through the site. Mine inflows under and adjacent to the creek are predicted to be insignificant. A brief discussion of sediment control measures, subsidence impact mitigation, surface water inflow predictions and water augmentation plans follow. The Bowie No. 1 mine plan is designed to minimize the impacts of the project on the surface water hydrology of the region. Disturbed area drainage from the East Mine benches, parking area, west portal fill, and loadout site is collected and treated on the site. Four sediment ponds collect disturbed area drainage from the mine benches. Another pond controls sediment generated by the underground development waste pile. One pond controls drainage from the run -of -mine stockpile area, and two ponds collect drainage from the disturbed areas of the loadout, truck scales, and highway coal stockpile area. The West Mine portal bench area drained to one sedimentation pond except for exempted portions of the fill face which had a small area exemption waiver. With the reclamation work at the West Mine portal bench area, the backfilled and graded area now drains to two sedimentation ponds. A system of lined and unlined ditches conveys waters from the disturbed areas to the ponds. The mine operator has applied for and /or obtained the appropriate NPDES permits. Effluent quality from the sedimentation ponds will be monitored to determine permit compliance. Subsidence effects have the potential to impact any or all springs, seeps, and ponds within the affected permit area. In order to protect water resources but still allow mining, the operator has developed a subsidence damage preventative mine plan, subsidence repair procedures, a water replacement plan, and an intensive monitoring system. The mine plan had been designed to preclude mining in certain critical areas where water rights exist. For example, the north extreme of East Roatcap Creek was not undermined to prevent impacts to certain water rights. In areas where the overburden depth was less than 800 feet, BRL conducted limited coal extraction under streams to minimize the potential for any subsidence. Should damage to any pipeline, spring, pond, etc., be identified as the result of mining, BRL will repair the damage in accordance with their "Subsidence Repair Handbook." This handbook, incorporated into Volume 3 of the application, contains detailed procedures that will be implemented to repair water resources and structures should they be impacted. A general water replacement plan had been prepared by the operator to augment water to water users while any mine related damage is being repaired. The applicant has demonstrated water is available and can be transported to affected water users if damage occurs. Their water rights consist of both springs and ditch water that could supply a variety of users. Impacts on water users would not be all at once. Rather, impact would progress slowly over areas as coal was mined. The applicant also agreed to reduce leaks and seeps on some ditches and has changed the point of diversion of the Overland Ditch from East Roatcap Creek to West Roatcap Creek to further protect the rights of present water users. To protect stock and wildlife, the applicant committed to maintaining a designated number of stockponds on the permit area which will be protected from damage. When BRL mined under Steven's and East Roatcap Creek, there was the possibility that water could have been encountered even if there was no subsidence. Faults and fractures may be encountered underground that are in communication with the stream and its associated alluvial /colluvial deposits. Dewatering of these faults and fractures could diminish streamflow Page 25 of 42