Hydrologic evaluation of a hypothetical coal-mining site near Chrisney, Spencer County, Indiana

Protecting the water resources of the Nation is a major emphasis of the
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, PL 95-87. Permanent regulations
established for this Act by the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) require the
issuance of a permit before mining begins. An application for a mining permit
must include an assessment of the hydrologic characteristics of the mining
site and adjacent area, and a projection of the potential impacts of
mining activities on surface water and ground water.

OSM's permanent regulations and guidelines provide little insight on the
"how to" aspect of making the required hydrologic assessment. This investigation
was completed to improve the understanding of the kinds of information
needed to make such assessments by: (a) reviewing the regulations to determine
what hydrologic information is required; (b) preparing an example hydrologic
assessment based on the regulations; and (c) using the experience
gained in (a) and (b) to identify areas lacking or needing additional data to
make the required assessment.

Hydrologic data for the study area were obtained from published and unpublished
reports, maps, aerial photographs, personal interviews with residents
in the area of the hypothetical mine site, and discussions with experts in
the field. Where data were unavailable, "synthetic" data were generated by
extrapolation from proximate or similar watersheds and (or) by assumptions
based on experience or theory. Some field data were collected to corroborate
and augment information originating from all these sources.