&EPA
             United States
             Environmental Protection
             Agency
             Region 3
             Sixth and Walnut Sts,
             Philadelphia, PA 19106
903R81100

 January 1981
Areawide Environmental Assessment
for Issuing NPDES New Source
Coal Mining Permits
in West Virginia

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                                        PREFACE
     A new c.ompAehen-i'tve management pAocei-i 1&  buying ln*tltute,d in
Virginia by Region III of, the. United States Environmental Prote.ction Agency
(EPA).   The new proce** ^6  designed £o ea6e £he regulatory burden on -the
coa£ mining Industry by cutting co*t* and *avlng ua£uab£e ^one -m
new coa£ minly in&ivunQ e.nvckaAg&>, wh^Lck
tk .  Tne aAeaw-tde A.ev,tew pAnce44 and
-the coopeAatton o^ We^t (/iAgin-ia'A Ve.pafitime.nt ofi Natural Re4oaAce4
appSLOXwatel.y 601 o^ a££ applicant* to obtain dna&t wateA. dii, change.
wx;t/uji. one month o& tie.ceA.pt  ofi the, application  by EPA.
     The  new pAoce44 /ci bo^h  ^peedt/ and e.^^.cxen^:.   EPA '4 exten^^ue data
gathe.sung and Ae6oaAc.e ana£t/4-c6  compotes the.  pote.nt^al -impact*  o&  coal
to the. A e.n-b'itu.v^ty ok the. State.'* natahal Ae4oaAce4.   Thu> allow*  aJie.a* highly
*en*-iU,ve. to coal mln-ing to be. *lngle.d out ^OA. detailed peAm£t  fizvlew white.
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                                 JANUARY 1981
Areawide Environmental Assessment
for Issuing NPDES New Source Coal
Mining Permits in West Virginia
Prepared by:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — Region !
Environmental Impact Branch
6th and Walnut Streets
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106

Joseph T. Piotrowski, Project Monitor
Evelyn B. Schulz, Assistant Project Monitor
Rosemarie M. Baldino, Production Advisor

Assisted by:
Wapora Inc.
Wesley R. Homer, Project Manager
James A. Schmid, Technical Advisor

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                 AREAWIDE  ENVIRONMENTAL  ASSESSMENT PROCESS.   AN INTRODUCTION
     Coal  mines   that   begin   to   discharge
water  to  streams  after  September  17,  1977
are  generally considered by EPA  to be  "New
Sources."  Before  a New  Source  permit  can  be
issued   by  EPA,   a   thorough   environmental
review  is  required.    The Areawide  Environ-
mental  Assessment  Process  is   designed  to
maximize EPA's  use of existing  resource  data
when reviewing  New Source coal  mining  permit
applications  from West   Virginia.    EPA  is
seeking  to  minimize  the  time  and  effort
needed by  applicants  to  prepare applications
and by EPA staff to review  them.

     Using existing  environmental  data,  EPA
has   identified   areas   with    significant
resources  that  are considered  sensitive  to
new  mining,   and  the  most  intensive  review
will  be  reserved  for   permit  applications
from  such   areas.    This  document   alerts
potential  permit applicants to  the  signifi-
cance and  sensitivity of  these  areas as  well
as  the  reasons for  these determinations.
Applicants in areas identified  by this Area-
wide Assessment to be less sensitive to New
Source coal  mining can  obtain  permits  in  a
short  turnaround  time with minimal review.
In  many  cases  applicants  will be  able  to
shorten  the  review  period  by  submitting
necessary  resource-specific  data  and   pro-
posed  mitigations  along   with  the  permit
application.

     Information from the  areawide process
has  been  used  to  develop  three   products:
this Areawide Assessment  for  West  Virginia
as  a  whole,   seven   river  basin-specific
Supplemental  Information  Documents,  and   a
series of  1:24,000-scale  overlay maps.   This
Areawide  Assessment   summarizes  the  entire
New  Source process  and   EPA's  findings  for
issuing New Source NPDES  coal mining permits
in  West  Virginia.    It  will  be   used  to
support  Findings  of  No  Significant Impact
(FONSI's)  on  permit   applications  from  non-
sensitive areas in West Virginia.   Copies  of
this assessment can be obtained from:

EPA Region III,  Enforcement Division
West Virginia Section (3EN23)
Sixth and Walnut Streets
Philadelphia  PA  19106
Telephone 215-597-1370.

     The encyclopedic  Supplemental  Informa-
tion Documents  (SID's)  summarize  the inven-
tory  findings  and  detailed  assessment  of
impacts  from  future  coal  mining  for  each
ma3or  river  basin.    The   inventory   data
resulted from extensive contact with  govern-
ment agencies, educational  institutions,  and
the interested public.  The SID's  address at
length those  measures  which can be utilized
by  applicants  and  by  EPA  (in cooperation
with  other agencies)  to avoid  or minimize
adverse  effects  on the  natural  and  human
environment.    Each  SID  is   printed  in  a
looseleaf,  working  draft  format so that  up-
dated  information   and   new  data   can   be
inserted  easily.    Quantities  of  the  SID
documents   are   limited.     Copies   can   be
obtained   from   EPA's  Enforcement Division
until   the   supply   is   exhausted.      The
libraries  to  which  copies of  all seven  SID's
have been  sent  are  listed  in an appendix to
this Areawide Assessment.

     A series of plastic overlays  (environ-
mental  inventory  map  sets)   keyed  to  the
standard  7.5  minute  US  Geological   Survey
topographic   reference  maps   of   the  seven
basins    (1:24,000-scale)     displays    the
resource   and  past  mining   inventory   data
analyzed  in the SID's in  a form  tnat  expe-
dites  EPA's review  of  permit  applications.
These maps  allow EPA staff  to  review speci-
fic  mine   applications  in   their areawide
context and greatly reduce  the need  for  EPA
to  contact  each  resource  managing   agency
with    respect    to    each    application.
Additional  mining  operations  and resource
data can be entered on the  maps by EPA per-
mit staff.   These maps are  kept  at  the  EPA
Enforcement Division Office  in  Philadelphia.
It  is  not  anticipated that  there  will  be  a
widespread  demand  for the  maps,  which  in
most cases  repeat  the  data available  in  the
SID's  and   elsewhere.   To  facilitate  occa-
sional reference to these  inventory  maps by
interested  applicants  or   others, however,
EPA  has   made   copies  available  in   West
Virginia   for  consultation  during   normal
business hours at:

West Virginia Department of Natural
Resources
Division of Water Resources Building
1201 Greenbrier  Street
Charleston, West Virginia   25311

Contact:   Mr. Lyle  Bennett
Telephone:  304-348-5904

           and at

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US Office of  Surface Mining-Region  I
Division of Technical Services and  Research
603 Morris Street
Charleston, West Virginia  25301

Telephone:  304-342-8125

     EPA-Region  III will implement  the  area-
wide  process  described here   for   all  New
Source  NPDES  permit applications  from  West
Virginia  received   after  January   1,   1981.
EPA's  environmental  review  of  coal mining
permit  applications will continue  until  the
entire  NPDES  program  is  delegated  to  the
State of West Virginia.  The current agree-
ment  between  EPA  and West  Virginia  antici-
pates delegation during  September  1981.   At
that  time,   EPA   will   transfer  all   data
developed   in   the   Areawide  Environmental
Assessment  Process  to  the  West   Virginia
Department  of Natural  Resources  for use  in
issuing State NPDES permits.

Coal and the  Clean Water Act

     With   the   enactment    of   Public   Law
92-500, the  Federal Water  Pollution  Control
Act  Amendments  of  1972 (now  known  as  the
Clean Water  Act [CWA]),  it became  a  National
goal  to  achieve  "fishable   and   swimmable"
waters  throughout  the  United  States.    To
achieve  these  ends,  Section  402  of  the  CWA
established   the  "National   Pollutant  Dis-
charge Elimination  System" (NPDES).

     To   implement   this   system,   EPA   has
developed  a  permit  program which  establishes
effluent  discharge  limitations tor  existing
point sources of water  pollution, according
to  category  of  discharge  or  industry.   The
performance  standards  for  existing   sources
were  followed  by  stricter  limitations  for
"New  Sources,"  which  also  are being  issued
industry  by  industry.

     Because  they   are   point  sources   of
wastewater,   coal  mines   must  meet   NPDES
standards.   All  coal  mines  that  begin  con-
struction  after September 17,  1977 (the  date
when  New  Source effluent  limitations  were
published  in draft  form),  are  sub3ect  to the
New  Source  Standards  of  Performance.    If
they  propose  to discharge  wastewater  into
surface  waters,  they must  meet  the  appli-
cable National  New  Source  effluent  limita-
tions detailed in Table  1.
Table 1.  New Source effluent limitations for the  coal mining point source  category.1
Coal Preparation Plants
With Acidic Wastewater
Parameter Before Treatment2
Average of
1-day 30 consecutive
maximum daily values
Total suspended solids 70.0 35.0
Total iron3 6.0 3.0
Total manganese 4.0 2.0
pH range4 (pH units) 6 to 9
Active Active
Acid or Ferruginous Alkaline Mine
Mine Drainage Drainage
Average of Average of
1-day 30 consecutive 1-day 30 consecutive
maximum daily values maximum daily values
70.0 35.0 70.0 35.0
6.0 3.0 6.0 3.0
4.0 2.0
6 to 9 6 to 9
iThe Nationwide minimum NPDES performance standards are for wastewater discharged after application of the
   best available demonstrated control technology by New Sources.  Units are milligrams per  liter (mg/1)
   except as otherwise indicated  (40 CFR 434).

2No discharge to navigable waterways is allowed from facilities which do not recycle wastewater for use in
   processing.

3Total  iron limitations are lower than the 7.0  (1-day maximum) and 3.5 (average of 30 consecutive daily
   values) maxima set for existing sources.

^Slightly higher pH may be allowed if necessary to achieve the manganese limitation.

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     Additional  limitations  with respect to
settleable solids and pH currently are being
formulated by  EPA.    These  limitations will
complete  the  full   set of   Best  Available
Technology   Economically   Achievable  (BAT)
requirements  for various  subcategories  of
existing  and new coal  industry facilities.
The  additional   requirements  will  apply  to
discharges during large storm events, during
bypass episodes, and  from surface mines that
have been regraded  but  are  not yet  released
from  performance  bonds.    The  additional
effluent   limitations   will   cover   both
existing sources and New Sources in  the coal
mining  industrial  category.    They  will  be
published in early 1981.

     The EPA regulations for New Source coal
mines (40 CFR 434) include three basic cate-
gories of operations:   new coal preparation
plants,  new  surface  or underground mines,
and  substantially  new  mines.    First,  new
coal  preparation   plants,   independent  of
mines,  are   considered  New  Sources  if  they
are  constructed after  September  17,  1977,
unless there were binding  contractual obli-
gations  to   purchase  unique  facilities  or
equipment prior  to  the  September 17 promul-
gation  date.    Second,   surface  and under-
ground mines that begin construction subse-
quent to  September  17,  1977,  automatically
are  considered  to   be  New   Sources,  again
unless there were binding contracts  prior to
that date.   Third,  other surface  or under-
ground  mines  may  be  regarded  by  EPA  as
"substantially new"  operations requiring New
Source NPDES permits, if they:  (i)  begin to
mine  a   new   coal   seam   not  previously
extracted  by   that   mine,   (ii)  discharge
effluent  to  a  new  drainage  area  not  pre-
viously affected by that mine,  (lii)  cause
extensive new surface disruption, (iv) begin
construction  of  a  new  shaft,  slope,  or
drift,   (v)   make   significant  additional
capital  investment  in  additional  equipment
or facilities,  or  (vi)  otherwise  have char-
acteristics  deemed  appropriate  by  the  EPA
Regional Administrator  to  place them in the
New  Source  category.    Numerous   existing
mines may qualify  as  "substantially  new."
The determination of whether a mine  is a New
Source will be conducted case by case, based
largely on the  information supplied  with the
permit application to EPA.

Coal and NEPA

     Congress,  through Section 511(c) of the
Clean Water  Act,  determined  that New Source
permits  are  "major   Federal   actions"  with
respect to the National Environmental Policy
Act  of  1969  (NEPA).   Section  102(2)(C)  of
NEPA requires that:

[All  agencies  of  the  Federal  Government
shall]   include  in  every  recommendation  or
report  on  proposals  for  legislation  and
other  ma3or  Federal   actions  significantly
affecting the quality of  the human environ-
ment, a detailed statement  [an Environmental
Impact Statement or  EIS]  by the  responsible
official on.

i.    the environmental impact of the
      proposed action

ii.   any adverse environmental effects
      which cannot be  avoided should the
      proposal be implemented

in.  alternatives to  the  proposed action

iv.   the relationship between local short
      terms uses of man's  environment and
      the maintenance  and  enhancement of
      long-term productivity, and

v.    any irreversible and  irretrievable
      commitments of  resources which would
      be involved in  the proposed action
      should it be implemented.

     NEPA  binds   EPA  to   a  comprehensive
environmental permit  review process  for New
Source  coal  mining   applications  in  West
Virginia, so  long  as  EPA  administers NPDES
permits.    The  New   Source  NPDES  program
offers  significantly  enhanced opportunity,
as  compared  with  the existing  source  pro-
gram,  for  (i)  public  and  interagency  input
to  the  Federal  NPDES  permit  review process
before   mine   construction   begins,   (ii)
effective environmental review and consider-
ation  of  alternatives  that  may avoid  or
minimize adverse  effects,   and  (111)  imple-
mentation   of  environmentally   protective
permit conditions on  mine  planning and oper-
ation.     Additionally,  NEPA  reviews  can
assist   substantially  in   maintaining  and
protecting    the    present    environmental,
aesthetic, and recreational resources of the
coal regions of West  Virginia.

     NPDES permits  issued  through delegated
State  programs  are not  considered signifi-
cant Federal  actions.   Hence they  are not
subject  to NEPA review.   The procedure used
by  EPA  in  implementing the  New  Source NEPA

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reviews  in  West  Virginia,  therefore,   is
expected  to  be  an  interim  procedure until
the  State  assumes the  NPDES program.   The
information developed by  EPA will be turned
over to West Virginia when  it takes over the
NPDES permit program in September 1981.

Advantages of the Areawide  Environmental
Assessment Process;

     As energy consumers, all citizens stand
to  benefit  from  efforts  to   expedite  the
mining  of  West  Virginia's  untapped  coal
resources.  As inhabitants  of the ecosystem,
all citizens stand to lose  valuable environ-
mental resources  if  New Source  mining acti-
vities  are  uncontrolled.    EPA's  areawide
approach   to   environmental  assessment   is
designed  to  streamline the  permit applica-
tion process for  New  Source coal mines in  a
manner that will  save time  and  money  for EPA
and  for   the  permit  applicant,  while   it
identifies and protects valuable  resources.

     The  typical  NEPA review process for  a
proposed  New Source  without this  areawide
approach would require  the  permit applicant
to  submit  a  detailed  Environmental Informa-
tion  Document  and EPA  to  prepare  either  a
Finding of No  Significant Impact (FONSI)  or
an  Environmental  Impact  Statement (EIS)  for
each permit application.  This  process could
take as long as  a year  or more  and be quite
costly to  both  parties.  The  mine operator
or  his paid consultant would have to  identi-
fy  existing  resources.    This  would  involve
contacting  many   Federal,  State,  and local
agencies.   The  information  then would have
to  be mapped and  analyzed with  regard to the
proposed   mining   operations.     After  EPA
reviewed   the  document,  it would  use  the
information to prepare the  EIS  or FONSI.

     As the  result  of the Areawide Environ-
mental  Assessment   Process,   however,  EPA
already  has  collected  and  interpreted   a
great deal of information on existing condi-
tions.     Instead  of  collecting  the  data
pertinent  to each new mining operation, EPA
has  assembled  all  data  available  for  the
State of  West  Virginia.   Existing resources
within each  of  the seven river basin areas
have been  compiled on clear  plastic overlays
(environmental  inventory map   sets)  to  the
standard  7.5-minute  USGS topographic refer-
ence  maps  (1:24,000-scale ) .    This   mapping
reduces  the amount  of  interagency   contact
required  of  EPA  during  its  NEPA review of  a
typical  permit  application.    The   uniform
format  provided  by  the  USGS  maps  allows
EPA's Enforcement  Division to perform  rapid
"at-a-glance"  environmental  reviews   which
pinpoint exactly  the  locations  of  sensitive
resources  with  regard  to   individual New
Source coal mining operations.

     EPA's areawide approach  also  serves  to
insure  that  all  or  at  least  most valuable
resources  are   identified.     EPA's   data
gathering    process    involved    contacting
numerous  government,  educational,  and  pri-
vate  institutions.   Hundreds  of  documents
were collected  and reviewed by persons  with
the appropriate technical  expertise.

     The data gathering  process  allowed the
designation  of  areas  which  are   considered
extremely  sensitive  to  mining   activities,
those which are considered  moderately sensi-
tive  to  miing  activities, those which are
probably non-sensitive to  properly  regulated
mining , and those  for which more  information
must be obtained  before  the relative sensi-
tivity to  mining  can be determined.    These
areas and  the  level  of environmental review
which EPA  will  employ  now  can be  identified
by  the  concerned  citizen,   environmentalist,
and prospective coal mine  operator.

     The  areawide  process   and  its products
have been  designed for  maximum  flexibility
and  continuous  updating.   Citizens,  indus-
try, and other agencies  can provide input  to
EPA's  data base  at  any  time  by   submitting
information  to  EPA's  Enforcement  Division.
The  public notice  and  issuance  of a  draft
permit  processes   insure  opportunities for
comment on individual permit  applications.

The New Source NPDES Permit Process Using
the Areawide Assessment

The  West  Virginia  Department   of Natural
Resources  (WVDNR)  and EPA have  developed  a
cooperative  process  to  review  the environ-
mental impacts  of  proposed New Sources  coal
mining activities.  A copy  of each  completed
application  for  a State surface  mine  (SMA)
number,  underground  opening   (DR  14),   or
preparation  plant  (DR  23) is  forwarded  to
EPA-Region  III.    These  State   application
forms now  include  the  administrative infor-
mation  that  EPA  uses  to make   the   legal
determination   of   whether   the  proposed
facility  is  a New Source.   EPA  Enforcement
Branch  personnel   then   begin   preliminary
environmental review of  proposed  New Sources
in  coordination   with   the   relevant   State

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agencies  prior  to  receipt  of  the  actual
NPDES permit application.  The typical NPDES
permit  application process  is outlined  in
Figure 1.   If  the  facility  is  a  New Source,
the State permit applicant is  informed with-
in 30 days that a valid New Source permit is
required prior to the beginning of construc-
tion and is sent a NPDES application.  He is
also informed  of  any  additional  environmen-
tal data  that  EPA will  require  to complete
the environmental review.  EPA believes that
most applicants  will  be able  to  supply any
necessary  data at the  time  a formal  NPDES
application is submitted to EPA.

     NPDES New Source  permits  can be condi-
tioned by  EPA  to avoid  or  minimize adverse
effects on any type of significant resource.
Thus, as part  of  the Areawide Environmental
Assessment  Process,   baseline  information
detailing    the    existing    environment.
                       geography  and geology; historic,  aesthetic,
                       and   recreational   sites;    environmentally
                       sensitive  areas;  stream water quality  cate-
                       gories;   and  other   potential    issues   of
                       concern  was  compiled  in a uniform  format  in
                       the  SID's  and environmental  inventory map
                       sets.   Together  with  the  copy of  the  appro-
                       priate .State permit application,  these  base-
                       line  data now allow  a rapid  review of New
                       Source   coal  mining   applications.     This
                       process   also  relieves  the  applicant   of
                       duplicative  application requirements as well
                       as  the  often expensive  and  time  consuming
                       burden  of  environmental data development  in
                       areas  shown  by  these  baseline   data  to  be
                       environmentally  non-sensitive.

                           The intensity of  NEPA  review  given  to
                       coal  industry New  Source  permit  applications
                       will  vary  with the environmental  sensitivity
                       of  the  permit area  (Figure   2).   Two  basic
           Figure  1
Typical  NPDES Permit  Process
          ENVIRONMENTAL
          ASSESSMENT
        (New Source only)

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                        Figure 2
   APPLICATION THAT
    INCLUDES AN
   ORPHANED MINE
    EPA NEW SOURCE NPDES PERMIT
       NEPA REVIEW PROCESS
COAL  MINING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY
                   PRIORITY TRACK
   APPLICATION FROM
  NON-SENSITIVE AREA
 WITH NO LOCAL RESOURCES
   APPLICATION FROM
  NON-SENSITIVE AREA
 WHERE LOCAL RESOURCE
  REQUIRES PROTECTION
   APPLICATION FROM
 POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE
  IMPACT AREA(PSIA)
classes of areas  are  depicted broadly in the
Figure  3  map  of  West Virginia.    There are
many  areas  in which mining will have  no
significant  adverse impacts,  so  long  as all
localized  resources   are   proposed   to  be
protected  adequately.   For  mining industry
permits  from   those   areas,  this  Areawide
Assessment document serves  as  a  "Finding of
No  Significant  Impact,"  provided that all
other  local, State,  and Federal  permit and
approval   requirements  are   satisfied  and
appropriate  mitigative  measures  for  speci-
fically  identified, localized  resources are
applied.

     Additional  scrutiny  by  EPA  will  be
necessary  for  New Source  applications  where
there  are  localized resources  that the mine
will   affect,   but  the   applicant  has  not
proposed  adequate  protective measures.   If
the  appropriate mitigation  is  not specified
in  the  New  Source  permit  application,   a
detailed  NEPA  review  ordinarily  will  be
required  to  develop  suitable conditions for
the permit.  Examples of localized resources
include  National  Register  historic  places,
parks,  cemeteries,  wetlands,  and critical
habitats   of   endangered   species.     Such
                   resources   typically   can   be   avoided  or
                   buffered  by  careful  design  of   the  mining
                   facility.

                        A  detailed review  of  New  Source mines
                   and other  coal facilities  on  a case-by-case
                   basis  will   be  warranted   in  those  areas
                   designated as  Potentially Significant Impact
                   Areas  (PSIA's)  because of  their  high sensi-
                   tivity  to  New Source coal  mining.  Criteria
                   used  to  designate  PSIA's   in each  of  the
                   seven  basins  are  summarized  in Table 2 and
                   discussed  in  subsequent   sections  of  this
                   Areawide  Assessment.  Special  attention was
                   given  by  EPA  to  considerations  of  water
                   quality  and  aquatic biota in defining the
                   PSIA's of  each  river basin.  The  EPA  concep-
                   tual  approach to  protecting  surface  waters
                   is outlined  in the  general findings  section
                   of   this   Areawide   Assessment;   specific
                   findings  are  indicated  in  the  final  basin-
                   specific    sections    of   this    Areawide
                   Assessment.

                        New   Source  applications   within  the
                   Potentially  Significant  Impact  Areas auto-
                   matically   will   require  individual  NEPA
                   review  to develop  measures or  alternatives

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Table 2.  Resource criteria used by EPA to designate  Potentially Sensitive Impact Areas in West Viryinia
  river basins for New Source coal raining.
PSIA Criterion/Basin
 North               Ohio/
Branch               Little
Potomac   Monongahela  Kanawha Elk  Gauley
        Guyandotte/
        Big Sandy/
 Coal/   Twelvepoie/
Kanawha  Tug Fork
BIA Category  II watershed

Federal recreational or multiple-use land

National Natural Landmark

National Wild/Scenic River or Study River

Other Nationally Significant River

National Wilderness Area
  (or proposed wilderness)
                                          X

                                          X
to prevent  or minimize  the  negative impacts
of the proposed  mining activities, if possi-
ble,  or  to  develop  the rationale  to deny  a
permit,  if  alternatives or mitigation cannot
sufficiently  protect the affected, sensitive
resources.    Where  potentially  significant
impacts   cannot   be   avoided,   a  full  EIS
procedure is  likely.

      EPA recognizes   the  serious  pollution
problem  posed  by  abandoned  mines  in  West
Virginia.   Therefore  it  expects to  accommo-
date  with priority  any application  for the
re-mining of  abandoned  mine  sites,  so long
as the  proposal  anticipates  that wastewater
discharges  and  reclamation  will satisfy all
currently applicable standards.

EPA and  USOSM

      EPA  has   taken   special   care,   when
developing  its   areawide permit  process,   to
rely  upon  the   environmentally  protective
requirements  of  the  permanent  regulatory
program  currently  being implemented by the
US Office of Surface Mining  (US Department
of  the  Interior).    Frequent  reference   is
made  to  the USOSM regulations in the SID's,
because  the USOSM performance standards were
written  to  abate  many  environmental abuses
associated  with  coal  mining.   Should USOSM
regulations   not   be   in   force,   similar
             requirements may  have  to be imposed on NPDES
             New  Source  permittees  by  EPA  to  assure
             environmental protection.

                  Pursuant to  the Surface  Mining Control
             and  Reclamation  Act  of  1977   (SMCRA;  P.L.
             95-87),  detailed  environmental  protection
             performance standards  applicable to the coal
             industry are to be  applied through  a phased,
             comprehensive   regulatory   program.     The
             permanent   regulatory   program   (44    FR
             15311-15463;  March  13,  1979)  requires more
             detailed Federal  standards than those set  in
             the initial interim program, and they are  to
             be imposed  through  a permit system.  Some  of
             the precise details of  the program  are  in
             litigation  and are  not yet certain.

                  The SMCRA  permit  program  for  privately
             owned, lands may be  delegated to the State  of
             West Virginia, following approval of air and
             water  quality  aspects  by  EPA  and overall
             approval   by   the   US   Secretary   of  the
             Interior.   Mining  activity  on  Federal lands
             will  continue  to   require  Federal (USOSM)
             permits.   Most  coal lands  in  West Virginia
             are  privately  owned.    The  West  Virginia
             program  was  approved   in   part  by the   US
             Department  of  the  Interior during October
             1980.  The  State  is resubmitting its propo-
             sal,  and  a public   hearing  will be held  by

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USOSM during January 1981.  If approved, the
State  SMCRA  program  could  be  implemented
during early 1981.

     EPA is currently  working  with USOSM to
develop procedures  for  coordinating  the New
Source  NPDES   environmental  review  process
for  coal  mining  industry  applications with
the similar permit review mandated for those
mines regulated by  the  US  Office of Surface
Mining under  the  Surface Wining Control  and
Reclamation  Act  of   1977   (44  FR 187.55322-
55325, September  25,  1979).  This  coordina-
tion  will reduce  potential  duplication of
requirements and will result  in an  efficient
and  comprehensive  review  process.    EPA is
unlikely  to   be  the  lead  agency   for   NEPA
review for permits for  coal  mines  if USOSM
administers   the   SMCRA   program   in   West
Virginia.

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               GENERAL  FINDINGS  OF  THE  AREAWIDE  ENVIRONMENTAL  ASSESSMENT  PROCESS
      In  this  section  the  overall   results
which  emerged from  EPA's  Areawide  Environ-
mental Assessment Process  in  the  major  river
basins   of   West  Virginia   are   discussed.
Summaries   of   the   principal   types   of
resources   evaluated   for  potential   coal
mining impacts,  the  results  of  these evalua-
tions, and  the  impact  on permit issuance are
included.   Inventory  findings and evaluation
methodologies  are  described  in  detail  in
each  SID.    EPA  has concluded  that  for  the
majority of  New Source coal  mining  applica-
tions,   existing  institutional   mechanisms
(both  environmental   performance standards
and interagency  coordination) will be suffi-
cient to protect environmental  resources and
to allow issuance of NPDES permits.

     EPA has  evaluated  the potential impacts
of  new  mining  on  seven  broad  classes  of
environmental  resources:    water  resources,
aquatic   biota,   terrestrial   biota,    air
quality  and   noise,   cultural   and  visual
resources, human and land  use resources,  and
earth resources.   Many of the  resources  in
the  basins  which  are  both  significant  and
sensitive  to New  Source   mining  are local-
ized.    These  resources   can  be protected
throughout   the  basins  through   mitigative
measures which will  be enforceable by  EPA
through  special  New  Source permit condi-
tions.   The conditions may  be  technical  in
nature,  requiring  that  special  engineering
practices be  adopted  during  mining.   Alter-
natively,    permit     conditions    may     be
procedural  or  institutional, invoking  coor-
dination with some  other  State  or   Federal
agency whose  requirements will protect  the
resources adequately.   Existing  controls  on
new mining, most notably the  USOSM permanent
program  requirements  under  SMCRA,  will  be
utilized  by   EPA   to  the   fullest  extent
possible.

Water Resources

     Groundwater and surface  water resources
are of particular concern  to EPA because  of
the Clean  Water Act  and   the  Safe  Drinking
Water  Act.     Public   water   supply   sources
(underground  and surface)  can  be  affected
adversely  by New  Source   mining   activities
that   reduce  water   supply   capacity   or
introduce  chemical  contaminants.    EPA  has
mapped public water  supply sources  and  will
require  mitigation  where  potential   impacts
on public  water  supplies  may  occur.    For
example,  where  underground  mines  are  pro-
posed  within  1.5 miles  of  any active  water
supply  well,   an ongoing  groundwater  moni-
toring  program  will  be  required.     Also,
surface mines  within  200 feet of any  active
water  supply  well or  spring  will require  a
detailed, permit-specific  evaluation.

     EPA  finds  that  the  impacts of  mining
activity  on   flooding   (especially   surface
mining) are variable,  poorly  documented,  and
impossible  to  generalize.   If USOSM  perma-
nent program regulations  regarding locations
of  activities  within  the  100-year  flood-
plain, construction of  retention  basins,  and
other  actions  to  control the  rate  of  mine
runoff are  implemented fully, the potential
effects of new mining  on  flood  levels  should
be mitigated adequately in most  cases.   EPA
recognizes  that,  in  certain  instances  where
various   factors  overlap   (extensive   new
surface mining in  steeply  sloping watersheds
where   there    is    considerable   existing
development on or  near  the floodplain,  as in
the  Tug   Fork  Valley   of   southern   West
Virginia),  adverse impacts  may   be  signifi-
cant and  should  be evaluated closely  before
New  Source  permits  are  issued.    EPA  will
rely  on   the  public  notice  aspects  of  the
NPDES permit process  to  identify  areas  where
flooding  and   other  hydrologic  impacts  are
potentially serious.    In  identified  cases,
EPA  may  elect  to   address   the issue   of
individual   and   cumulative   mine-related
effects  on  flooding  in  a   detailed   site-
specific manner.

Aquatic Biota

     Aquatic  biota are  especially  signifi-
cant  resources  in  West Virginia,  and  they
have  been  damaged greatly  by  past  mining
practices.   In  many West  Virginia   streams
significant  biota  have  been  shown  to  be
quite  sensitive  to   mining   effluents  that
meet  current  New  Source  standards.     The
significance   of  the   aquatic   biota   of
individual streams has  been  evaluated  on  the
basis of  factors such as their recreational
(sport  fishing)   importance,  nature   study
value, and  threatened or endangered  status.
Sensitivity was  determined  on  the  basis  of
all  available  data  using  the professional
judgment  of experienced aquatic  biologists.
Resource  evaluations  rely heavily  on  State
stream data and  evaluations.
                                               11

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     The  watersheds  that  warrant  special
consideration  in  EPA's NPDES  permit review
program have been designated as Biologically
Important  Areas  (BIA's).   These  areas are
subdivided    further   into    Category    I
(moderately   sensitive)   and   Category  II
(extremely sensitive)  BIA's  on the basis of
their  judged  sensitivity  to  mine-related
pollutants,  stream  size,  mine-waste assimi-
lation capacity, and other  available infor-
mation.   Full consideration  also  was   given
to  factors  such  as  the  diversity  of stream
biota,  the  presence  of  rare  or  unusual
species,  and the cultural  and recreational
significance of the  fishery resource in West
Virginia.

     The  essential  difference between BIA
Category  I and Category II areas is  that EPA
is confident that mitigative measures can be
applied in BIA Category I areas for  adequate
protection  of the  sensitive  aquatic   biota
identified.   These  mitigative  measures may
take   the   form    of   permit   conditions,
state-of-the-art control methods, and biolo-
gical   and  chemical   monitoring   programs
during mining.  The selection of  the appro-
priate mitigative measures  will result from
EPA's  evaluation  of  the  receiving  stream's
biological   baseline   taken   from    State
reports,  other previously  verified data,  or
a site-specific pre-mining biological survey
conducted  by  the   applicant.    Because  of
these  requirements,  EPA urges  all applicants
to  contact  EPA  at  the  earliest  stages  of
mine planning  to eliminate  unnecessary time
and dollar expenditures.

     In  BIA  Category  II  areas  mitigative
measures  may not  be sufficient  to prevent
adverse impacts.  More extensive information
on  stream water quality,  stream  biota, and
the impacts  of the  proposed new mining  acti-
vity   is  necessary.    Before   mining   takes
place  in BIA  Category  II  areas,  EPA will
require  that current data be provided  on  the
proposed  receiving  stream in the  form of  a
detailed  biological  assessment  that defines
species  composition,  assesses  the  suscepti-
bility to mining of those species  found,  and
determines  alternatives  (including special
permit   conditions)   that  will   adequately
protect  the  aquatic biota.   The  data also
will   form   a   baseline  against  which   to
compare   actual  impacts   and   judge   the
effectiveness of mitigations associated with
the permit,  if  granted.  The  scope of each
biological assessment  will  be  determined  by
EPA  on   a  case-by-case  basis  and   should
proceed  as   early  as  possible   during mine
planning.  Background  biological data  can be
supplied  by  the applicant or by   the  State.
All BIA  Category  II  areas are  designated  by
EPA as PSIA's in each  basin.

     Certain areas  have  been  classified  by
EPA  as   non-sensitive,   based   on  aquatic
characteristics, water quality  characteris-
tics,  and physical  characteristics of   the
waterbody.   In these  areas,  the  Nationwide
New  Source  effluent  limitations will   be
adequate  to  maintain  or  enhance  present
water quality.

     Unclassified   areas  also   have   been
identified by  EPA.   Here,  current data  are
not  adequate for  classification  as   either
BIA  Category I,  BIA  Category  II,  or non-
sensitive areas.  These areas will require  a
brief but intensive investigation  and  report
by  either the  State's  or   the  applicant's
qualified  biologist  for classification   as
either a  non-sensitive  or BIA  Category I  or
II  area   so  that  permit  review by  EPA  can
proceed.   Again,  contact by  the  applicant
with  EPA  at  the   earliest  stage of mine
planning   is   recommended   for   proposed
facilities in unclassified areas.
BIA
Category 1
moderately
sensitive
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Category II
extremely
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Non-Sensitive

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New Source
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                                               12

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                                                                                     L
Terrestrial Biota

     Terrestrial     biological     resources
include outstanding vegetation and wildlife.
Such  resources  are  important  because  of
their   commercial    value    (lumbering   and
trapping,  for  example),  their  significance
as  threatened  and  endangered  species,  and
their    inherent    ecological   value   and
functional  role  in  high  quality  natural
environments.  EPA  has  mapped data provided
by the WVDNR-Heritage Trust Program (now the
Natural Heritage Program)  and other sources
concerning  populations   of   endangered  or
other special interest species of plants and
animals, outstanding trees, stands of virgin
forest, wetlands, and other scarce but note-
worthy biological features.

     EPA  has  concluded  that  implementation
of  USOSM   permanent   program  requirements
should  adequately  identify the  presence of
valuable terrestrial biota  on proposed mine
sites  and  serve to protect  any  identified
resources  when New Source  mining   is  pro-
posed.  Terrestrial biota of  National signi-
ficance  (National   Natural   Landmarks)  are
included in the PSIA's of the basins.

Air Quality and Noise

     In  most  cases, air quality  and noise
issues  in  the  context  of  new mining opera-
tions  are  not expected  to  be  significant,
are  localized   in   scope,  and  already  are
mitigated  substantially  by   other  EPA  and
State programs.  Air quality  impacts consist
primarily  of  potential  point  source  air
quality impacts from coal preparation plants
(particulate   emissions)   and   the   more
generalized  effects such  as fugitive  dust
emissions  resulting  from blasting,  hauling,
and  other  mining  activities.   Preparation
plants  are  regulated pursuant  to  the Clean
Air Act  by the West Virginia Air  Pollution
Control  Commission,  in  accordance  with the
EPA-approved   State   Implementation   Plan.
Fugitive  dust  control  measures  for  coal
mines have  been  incorporated  into  the USOSM
permanent  program  requirements.   Therefore,
EPA finds that major adverse  impacts will be
mitigated  adequately and  will  not  require
special  NPDES  permit conditions.   Blasting
noise and vibration are  addressed thoroughly
by USOSM and WVDNR regulations and similarly
will   not   require  added   NPDES   permit
conditions.
Cultural and Visual Resources

     Many   cultural   and   primary   visual
resources,   if   identified   and  specially
designated,  are protected  by  Federal   laws
such  as  the National  Historic  Preservation
Act of 1966, the Archaeological  and Historic
Preservation  Act  of  1974,   the  Wild   and
Scenic Rivers  Act, the  Wilderness  Act,  and
other Federal legislation.   Such protection
is recognized by the USOSM permanent program
regulations.     West   Virginia   law    also
protects  State  lands   by  prohibitions  or
other  controls  on   coal  mining.     These
resources   are   important  for  educational
purposes, their  contribution to the overall
quality of  life, and their considerable  role
in  promoting  tourism   and  other  economic
development  efforts  in  West  Virginia.    New
Source mining activity can affect archaeolo-
gical and historic resources both by direct
destruction  prior  to  evaluation or salvage
and indirectly through aesthetic degradation
where these  resources  have not  been investi-
gated   fully   prior    to   mine  planning.
However, because cultural resources tend to
have a site-specific localized  character  and
tend  to  be  located    in  developed  areas
removed  from areas expected to  be  mined in
the future,  their  protection  is  not expected
to, affect  the   New  Source   permit  program
significantly.

     EPA  has mapped  all  National  Register
sites as  well  as  those  other  historic  and
archaeologic  sites   for  which  data   were
available.   The  procedures  established by
Congress   through   the   National  Historic
Preservation   Act   and   the    Archaeologic
Preservation Act will  be sufficient to  pro-
tect  these  identified   resources.    Other
significant  sites   are  likely  to  exist in
West  Virginia.     To   make  certain   that
adequate  information   is developed  in   each
case, EPA   is  affording   the  State Historic
Preservation  Officer   the  opportunity  to
utilize  his  mandated   responsibilities   and
resources  to  identify  additional  cultural
resources and to  evaluate potential adverse
impacts  on   these  resources,  as  New  Source
permit  applications  are  received  by   EPA.
EPA will notify the State  Historic Preserva-
tion Officer of  potential New  Source mining
activity both at the time  when  the applicant
is  determined  to  be  a  New  Source  early in
the  process and  later  at  the  time  of  New
Source draft permit issuance.   In all cases,
                                               13

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EPA will not  issue  New Source NPDES permits
prior to the completion of review procedures
mandated by those  acts  where  historic and
archaeologic resources are involved.

     Primary  visual   resources,  where  not
protected  by  State  or  Federal  ownership,
will be  evaluated  by EPA on  a  case by case
basis  using a  preliminary  list  of primary
visual  resources,  a  site-oriented  visual
basin  impact  methodology,  and  coordinated
notification procedures  by  EPA  to  eliminate
data  gaps  and  to  assess   accurately  the
impact   of   New  Source  mining   on   these
resources.    In all  primary  visual resource
cases, mitigative  measures  can  be employed
to reduce substantially  the  adverse impacts
that otherwise  might  result  from New Source
mining.   In  extreme  cases,   EPA  will  not
issue  a  New Source  permit,   if  the primary
visual   resource    cannot    be    protected
adequately.    Certain  of  these  resources of
National  significance   (including  National
Wild  and   Scenic   Rivers,   other  National
Rivers, and Wilderness Areas) are considered
to be PSIA's in the basins.

Human Resources and Land Uses

     Impacts  from  New  Source  mining  can
affect  the  local  supply of  community  ser-
vices  and   facilities,   adequacy   of   the
transportation   network,  overall   housing
market, and  ability  of the  impacted govern-
ment  agencies  to  plan  reasonably  for the
future.   The  potential  for  adverse  impact
becomes  much  greater  as  the  size of  the
proposed mining activities and the  number of
these  activities  increase.    EPA  has estab-
lished a mechanism  which uses a preliminary
screening of these  issues based on an  array
of calculated threshold values.  Data inputs
include   local   unemployment   rates   and
regional  employment  multipliers.    Various
coordinative  procedures  are  brought  into
play  which  are  designed   to   alert  the
agencies directly involved with planning for
and managing potentially affected resources.
These  coordinative  procedures  essentially
constitute  mitigative measures  which  have
been  set out  by EPA  to address  potential
adverse  effects,  signaled when  a  threshold
value is reached.   In general, coordinative
procedures  will  suffice  to  mitigate impacts
while expediting  permit  issuance.   Various
ways  to  minimize potentially more substan-
tial   adverse   effects   also    have   been
identified  in the SID's.
     Land   use   issues,   particularly  the
compatibility  of   mining   activities  witt
other  uses  nearby,  are  addressed  at  lengtt
in the USOSM  regulations.   General land use
capatibility   issues   also   are  addressed
through  EPA's public  notice  provisions  as
well   as   other    coordinative   procedures
established by EPA.

     USOSM permanent program regulations and
SMCRA  mandate protection  of  public   lands,
including parks, as well as cemeteries.  The
EPA  public  notice   for each  NPDES   permit
provides   an   additional   opportunity  for
public land managers to  have their interests
considered when New Source permit conditions
are written.   Federal  recreation and  multi-
ple use  lands are included  as  PSIA's  in the
basins.

Earth Resources

     Earth resource impacts primarily  derive
from  or  are  a  link in  the chain  of other
resource  impacts.   The  permanent conversion
of  prime agricultural  land to  non-farming
uses  by  New   Source  surface  mining  is  a
direct   adverse   impact  which  potentially
affects  land productivity for  future genera-
tions.    Mining  on  unstable  slopes  or  in
areas  prone  to  subsidence  can give  rise to
direct adverse impacts  (e.g.,  landslides and
sinkholes) when  associated with  New  Source
mining.   Mining  on  steep slopes  exacerbates
natural  or manmade  slope instability as well
as   sedimentation   and   erosion   control
problems  and  the danger of  flash flooding.
Mining activities when located in the  flood-
plain  interfere with the absorptive capacity
of  the  natural  cover,  creating  increased
flood risks as well as related water-quality
problems.   Where the  potential  exists  for
toxic overburden and acid mine drainage, new
mining  ultimately  is most  likely  to  damage
water  resources  and  valuable  aquatic  and
terrestrial biota.

     As  part  of the  Areawide  Environmental
Assessment  Process,  EPA   has  mapped  and
evaluated soils classified as  prime agricul-
tural  land   (regardless  of   whether  these
soils    currently    are   in   agricultural
production) based on  USDA-Soil Conservation
Service  criteria.   EPA  has enumerated those
soil groups and  soil  series generally known
to  have  stability  problems and conditions
under   which   instability   and   subsidence
potential  exist.    EPA  has mapped  areas  of
                                              14

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known  instability  when  these data have been
available.   Steep  slopes defined  as those
greater   than   25%  (14°)  also  have  been
prepared.    Floodplain   (100-year)  designa-
tions,  as  determined by  the  US Geologicial
Survey  or  the  US  Department  of  Housing  and
Urban  Development,  have  been mapped by EPA.
Areas  with  greatest  potential  for  toxic
overburden  have been  established  with  the
assistance of the  Division of Reclamation at
WVDNR,  using  Reclamation's  file  data  to
determine  where the  probability for acid-
producing  overburden  as  well as  toxic coal
seams  themselves is substantial.

     EPA's  regulatory  controls  to  minimize
earth  resource   impacts  rely on  successful
application of the extensive USOSM permanent
program requirements, especially relating to
problems  of  toxic  overburden,  floodplain
protection,  and   slope   instability.     To
accommodate   EPA's  full   range   of   NEPA
responsibilities,  some   USOSM  requirements
have been extended.   For example,  the USOSM
Nationwide   steep   slope  requirements  are
imposed  on  slopes of  20°  (36%)   or  more.
Because of  West Virginia's  experience with
instability  on   slopes   of  less  than  20°,
slopes  between  14°  (25%) and  20°  will  be
considered  on   a   case-by-case   basis  for
application of USOSM steep slope performance
standards such  as  those  governing  the down-
slope  placement  of mine  spoil.   Concerning
prime   farmland,   USOSM   requirements  are
restricted basically to  that  land  currently
in  agricultural  production.    Because  of
EPA's  NEPA  concern  relating  to  long-term
effects and  irretrievable and  irreversible
commitments  of  resources,  lands  classified
by  the US  Soil  Conservation  Service  as  prime
farmland  will  be  considered  carefully  in
individual  permit  reviews,  whether  or  not
these lands currently  are  in  production.

Coal Resources

     Given the  large number  of  factors  which
affect  the demand  tor  coal  as  well as  its
supply,  the  implications of  EPA's new  Area-
wide  Environmental  Assessment  Process  for
the  future  mining of  coal  in West  Virginia
cannot  be  quantified  precisely.   Neverthe-
less,  generalized  estimates  of  impact  on
future  coal  mining have  been  prepared  by
EPA,  relying   heavily  on  historical mining
data,  estimates  of reserve  tonnages,   and
evaluations   of    coal   quality    factors.
Results   of   this   generalized   estimating
process  indicate that   approximately 10%  of
potential  future annual  tonnage  is  located
in  PSIA's  and,  therefore, will  not  be  able
to   take  advantage   of  the   streamlined
approach   provided   by  this  new   areawide
process.    More  importantly,   although   a
portion of the  remaining 90% of this poten-
tial  future   annual  tonnage  will  be condi-
tioned   by   various   types   of   mitigative
measures,  New Source permits  for  this  ton-
nage  can  be   issued  expeditiously   in   the
future, based upon  the process undertaken  by
EPA  as  summarized  in  this  Areawide  Assess-
ment.    In so  doing,   EPA   hopes   to   have
accomplished    important   National   energy
objectives  while preserving  and  protecting
equally important environmental values.
                                              15

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          BASIN-SPECIFIC FINDINGS OF THE AREAWIDE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT  PROCESS
     This section summarizes EPA's principal
findings  for each  basin.    The  areas  that
constitute PSIA's  are identified, including
BIA  Category II and  other  PSIA  components.
In   each  case   where  aquatic   resources
contributed  to  PSIA  designation,  the  entire
sub-watershed area  (all  tributaries)  of the
stream is included in  the PSIA.   This  is due
to  the   anticipated  transmission  of   pollu-
tants from upstream  areas  to the downstream
reaches known to have  high quality water and
biota.     Furthermore,  although  sampling
generally has not been conducted  in the more
remote   headwater   tributaries,   there   is
strong  reason  to  believe  that  the  very
significant  and  sensitive  biota  sampled  at
downstream   stations   also   inhabit  upper
reaches of the streams.

     Other    important   aquatic    resource
findings  such as BIA  Category I  areas  and
those waterways  deemed non-sensitive to New
Source  mining activities  also  are   identi-
fied.  Maps  for  each  river basin  illustrate
those areas  where lack  of  aquatic  resource
data      currently      precludes     stream
classification.
                                              17

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The Coal/Kanawha River Basin

     Several  PSIA's   in   the  Coal/Kanawha
River  Basin  have  been   identified  on  the
basis  of  aquatic  biological  resources  and
coincide with the boundaries of BIA Category
II areas (Figures 4 and 5 and Table 3).  For
example,  Laurel  Creek,  Mill  Creek,  Wolf
Creek, Glade Creek, and Mann's Creek, all of
which  are   located  in  Fayette County,  are
PSIA's  based  on their State  designation as
trout  waters  corroborated by  water  quality
and  aquatic  biological   data  available  to
EPA.    These  streams,  to varying  degrees,
have  been  demonstrated to have  high biolo-
gical  equitability  and   diversity  ratings,
suggesting  that  a  high  quality  fauna  is
currently  supported by  relatively  pristine
waters.  Mann's Creek also  supports species
of macroinvertebrates  that are indicative of
high  quality  water.    Meadow Creek,  Lick
Creek,  and  the Little  Bluestone River  in
Summers  County  and  Camp Creek  in  Mercer
County are designated  as  PSIA's because they
support  trout   as  well as other  especially
important   and   relatively    rare   aquatic
species, as  reported  by  the WVDNR-Heritage
Trust Program.

     In  the  Coal/Kanawha River  Basin  the
PSIA's  also   include   several  scenic  and
recreational  areas  of Nationwide  signifi-
cance.   The New River Gorge  National River
is  a  PSIA,  defined  by  the  "taking  line"
established   by  Congress   in   1978  (P.L.
95-625)  in  Fayette,   Raleigh,  and  Summers
Counties.   This  50,000-acre area  has been
authorized  for  acquisition  by  the  National
Park Service because of its multiple natural
resource   values    (aquatic,   terrestrial,
cultural,   and  visual)   and  recreational
potential.   Babcock  State  Park,  Grandview
State  Park,  McKendree  Public Hunting  and
Fishing Area, and Sandstone  Falls State Park
are   included   within  the   National  River
boundary (Figure 4).

     The Bluestone  River  from  its confluence
with  the  New  River  to   its  headwaters  was
designated  by  Congress as a  Study River for
potential  inclusion  in the National Wild and
Scenic  Rivers  System  (established  by P.L.
90-542  in  1968).    The  System  serves  to
protect and preserve rivers with  "remarkable
scenic,  recreational,  fish   and  wildlife,
historic,   cultural,   or   other   similar
values..."  Because the US Department  of the
Interior-Heritage  Conservation  and  Recrea-
tion  Service  has  designated  the Bluestone
River as  a Study River  in the  System,  hlPA
regards the Bluestone  mainstem with a 1,000
foot  buffer  zone  on  each  side  as  a  PSIA
(Figure 4 ) .

     Both the New River Gorge National River
authorized boundary  and  the  Bluestone River
with  its  buffer zone  include  several areas
that  are   classified as  PSIA's  because  of
their aquatic biota.  These PSIA's generally
are located in eastern and southern parts of
the  Basin  where   there   has  been  little
mining,  urban,   or   industrial  development.
More   specific    PSIA   locations  are   as
follows:

o  Laurel Creek:  in Fayette County,  this
   area includes the entire Laurel Creek
   watershed area beginning at  the Laurel
   Creek 3uncture with the New  River  at
   Cotton Hill,   including the  small towns of
   Dempsey and Beckwith

o  Wolf Creek:   in Fayette County, this
   area includes the Wolf Creek watershed
   which adjoins Laurel Creek  to  the  west;
   the watershed begins at South  Fayette on
   the New River

o  Mill Creek:   in Fayette County, the area
   includes the  Mill Creek watershed,
   encompassing  the  town of Ansted

o  Glade Creek:   in  Fayette County, the
   Glade Creek watershed  includes the towns
   of Danese, Pittman, and Landisburg

o  Mann's  Creek:  in Fayette  County,  the
   area includes the Mann's Creek watershed
   in/near Babcock State Park

o  Meadow  Creek:  in Summers  County,  the
   Meadow  Creek  watershed  extends upstream
   from the New  River

o  Lick Creek:   in Summers County,  the Lick
   Creek watershed joins the  New  River north
   of Sandstone  and  includes  the  town of
   Green Sulphur Springs

o  Little  Bluestone  River:  in Summers
   County, this  PSIA watershed includes  the
   town of Jumping Branch

o  Camp Creek:   in Mercer  County, the Camp
   Creek watershed  is  a PSIA  which includes
   Camp Creek State  Forest
                                               18

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Figure 4
POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AREAS IN THE
COAL/KANAWHA RIVER BASIN
                      19

-------
             Figure 5      BIOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT AREAS AND NONSENSITIVE
                          AREAS IN1HE COAL/KANAWHA RIVER BASIN
Krodel Lake
       CATEGORY I



       CATEGORY H



       UNCLASSIFIED AREAS



**••••• NONSENSITIVE AREAS



  A    CATEGORYI LAKE
      Lake
    Washington —l*^
                                                 r~Plum Orchard
                                                     Lake
                                                               Bab cock
                                                                 Lake
                                         ViRGiMA
                                   20

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Table 3.  Summary of major aquatic and water resource findings  in  the Coal/Kanawha  River
  West Virginia.  Waters include all watersheds unless specified as mainstem  only.   Lakes
  include a generalized buffer zone around the waterbody, encompassing  all areas  (potential
  mine sites) which would discharge directly into the lake.
     BIA Category I

Mill Run


Old Town Creek

West Creek

Tombleson Run



Krodel Lake (Lake only)


Hurricane W.S. Res.  (Lake only)


Ridenour Lake (Lake only)


Mainstem Kanawha (above Charleston)
Campbells Creek

Lens Creek

Witcher Creek

Hughes Creek

Paint Creek
(above Mahon

New River Mainstem
(Mainstem only below
t>lue stone Lake)
Mason

Mason

Mason



Mason


Putnam


Kanawha
Kanawha,
Fayette
Kanawha

Kanawha

Kanawha

Kanawha

Fayette
Fayette,
Summers
            Reason for Designation

High equitability
WVDNR-HTP Species:  Phoxinus erythrogaster

High diversity

Macroinvertebrate indicator species

High diversity
WVDNR-HTP Species:  Hybopsis storeriana
                    Notropis buchanani

Trout lake
Recreational area

Trout lake
Recreational area

Trout lake
Recreational area

High diversity, high equitability
WVDNR-HTP Species.  Notropis buchanani
                    Ichthyomyzon bdellium
                    Percina copelandi
                    Pimephales vigilax
                    Epioblasma torulosa
                      torulosa
                    Lampsilis orbiculata
                      orbiculata,
Important sport fishery and
  recreational area

High diversity

High diversity

High diversity

High equitability

Trout stream
High diversity, high equitability

High equitability
High diversity
WVDNR-HTP Species:  Notropis scabriceps
                    Notropis platyrhynchus
Macroinvertebrate indicator species,
Important warmwater sport  fishery;
many endemic fish species  present
                                               21

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Table 3.  Summary of major aquatic and water resource  findings  in  the  Coal/Kanawha  River
  West Virginia (continued).
     BIA Category I

Babcock Lake (Lake only)


Glade Creek

Pinch Creek

Marsh Fork

Fitzpatrick Lake (Lake only)

Little Beaver Lake (Lake only)

Pinnacle Lake (Lake only)

Bluestone River (Mainstem only)


Little Coal River (Mainstem only)

Rock Creek

Spruce Fork


Pond Fork

Stevens Lake (Lake only)

Flat Top Lake (Lake only)

Plum Orchard Lake (Lake only)

     BIA Category II

Laurel Creek


Mill Creek

Wolf Creek

Glade Creek

Mann's Creek


Meadow Creek
Raleigh

Raleigh

Raleigh

Raleigh

Raleigh

Mercer

Mercer


Boone

Boone

Boone
Boone

Boone
County

Fayette


Fayette

Fayette

Fayette

Fayette


Summers
                       Reason for Designation
Trout lake
Recreational area

Trout stream

Trout stream

Trout stream

Trout lake

Trout lake

Trout lake

WVDNR-HTP Species.
Sport fishery
Phenacobius teretulus
High diversity, high equitability

Macroinvertebrate  indicator species

High diversity, high equitability
Trout stream

High diversity, high equitability

Important sport fishery area

Important sport fishery area

Important sport fishery area

            Reason for Designation

Trout stream
High equitability

Trout stream

Trout stream

Trout stream

Trout stream
Macroinvertebrate  indicator species

Trout stream
WVDNR-HTP Species:  Notropis scabriceps
                                               22

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Table 3.  Summary of major  aquatic  and water  resource  findings  in  the  Coal/Kanawha River
  West Virginia  (concluded).
     BIA Category II

Lick Creek

Little Bluestone River

Camp Creek

    Non-Sensitive Areas

Cabin Creek

Paint Creek (lower half)
Kanawha River Mainstem
  (below Charleston)
Pocatalico River


Dunloup Creek

Brush Creek

East River (upper half)
Kanawha,
Fayette

Kanawha,
Putnam,
Mercer

Kanawha,
Roane

Fayette

Mercer

Mercer
                       Reason for Designation

           WVDNR-HTP Species:  Notropis  scabriceps

           Trout stream

           Trout stream
                                               23

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New River Gorge National River:  an
irregular zone of approximately 50,000
acres which parallels the New River,
starting at South Fayette and the
juncture of US 19 and the New River and
continuing upstream to Hinton near  the
Raleigh-Summers County border.  The area
bounded is irregular in shape but approx-
imates a corridor which averages 2 miles
in width.

Bluestone River:  in Fayette, Raleigh,
and Summers Counties, this PSIA is
defined as a corridor 2,000 feet wide,
centered on the mainstem of the Bluestone
River, beginning at Bluestone Lake  and
continuing south and west to the West
Virginia-Virginia border.
     The BIA Category I watersheds  that  will
receive special  attention  from EPA and  non-
sensitive areas  that will require only NPDES
effluent limitations are presented  in  Figure
5 and Table  3.   Neither of  these classes  of
areas  is  included  in   the   PSIA's of   the
Basin.   They  are  illustrated  here because
they are significant findings  for EPA  permit
processing.   Streams in large  parts  of  the
Basin cannot  be  classified on  the  basis  of
existing  data  and  appear  as  unclassified
areas in Figure  5.
                                            24

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The Elk River Basin

     The  PSIA's  in  the  Elk  River  Basin
reflect  significant  and  sensitive  aquatic
biota and have  been  defined  on the basis  of
BIA Category  II waters  (Figure  6  and  7 and
Table 4).  The  PSIA's primarily are located
in  the   eastern half  of  the  Basin,  where
there  has  been   little  mining  or  other
development.     The   headwaters  of  the  Elk
River and its  upper  tributaries have demon-
strated  high   equitability   and  diversity
ratings.   Most of  these  streams  are  trout
waters.    Many  streams  support significant
fisheries.    Species of  special interest  as
listed by  the  WVDNR-Heritage  Trust Program
have  been  located  in  some  streams  such  as
Old  Lick Creek in  Webster   County,  Sutton
Reservoir  in   Braxton  County,  and  the  Elk
River in Clay  County.   Many of the streams
also  happen  to be  lightly buffered against
influxes of  acid  from  sulfur-bearing   coal
and overburden  and  are,  therefore, particu-
larly  vulnerable   to   New  Source  mining-
related  discharges.     More   specific   PSIA
locations are as follows:

o  Elk River:    in Pocahontas,  Randolph,
   Webster,  and Braxton  Counties,  this PSIA
   includes  all areas tributary to the Elk
   River from the Clay-Braxton  County border
   and upstream, including major streams
   such as Chimney Rock  Creek,  Back Fork of
   Elk River,  Big Run, Bergoo  Creek,
   Leatherwood  Creek, Sugar  Creek, Little
   Sugar Creek, Point Mountain  Creek, Potato
   Knob Run,  Left Fork of  Holly River, Falls
   Run,  Laurel  Fork, Old Lick  Creek, Right
   Fork of Holly River, Desert  Fork,  Laurel
   Creek, Sutton Reservoir, Birch  River,
   Little Birch River, and Robinson  Fork

o  Elk River Mainstem.  in Braxton and  Clay
   Counties, this PSIA is restricted  to the
   mainstem corridor of the Elk River,
   beginning at the juncture of the  Kanawha-
   Clay County border (westernmost point)
   and continuing upstream to the  Clay-
   Braxton County border

o  Lilly Fork:  in Clay and Nicholas
   Counties, the Lilly Fork watershed

o  Little Sycamore Creek:  in Clay County,
   the Little Sycamore Creek watershed
   including the towns of Shelton  and
   Warfleld

o  Elk Twomile Creek:  in Kanawha  County,
   this PSIA watershed includes the  towns of
   Airport Village and Rutledge.

     The only BIA Category I area  designated
in the  Basin is  the  lowest section of the
Elk  River  Mainstem,  from  the  Kanawha-Clay
County   border   downstream   to   Charleston
(Figure 7 and Table  4).   There is only one
non-sensitive stream  in  the  Basin  (Buffalo
Creek), as determined by  EPA on the  basis of
existing aquatic  information.   Most  streams
in the  western  half of the  Basin cannot be
classified   on    the   basis    of    existing
information.

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-------
Table 4.   Summary of major aquatic and water resources in the Elk River Basin, West Virginia.
  Waters  include all watersheds unless specified as mainstem only.  Lakes  include  a
  generalized buffer zone around the waterbody, encompassing all areas (potential  mine sites)
  which would discharge directly into the lake.
     BIA Category I

Elk River (mainstem only)
     BIA Category II

Elk River (headwaters) and
  tributaries

Elk River
   Chimney Rock Creek

Back Fork of Elk (headwaters) and
  tributaries

Elk River
   Big Run

   Bergoo Creek


   Leatherwood Creek


   Back Fork of Elk River

      Sugar Creek

      Little Sugar Creek

      Point Mountain Creek

      Potato Knob Run

Left Fork of Holly River
                       Reason for Designation

           High diversity, high equitability
           Three or more gamefish species
           Three or more sensitive  fish  species
           WVDNR-HTP Species: Eastern sand darter
           Significant warmwater fishery
County                 Reason for Designation

Pocahontas Various trout streams
Randolph   Trout stream
           High diversity, high equitability
           WVDNR-HTP Species:  Ohio lamprey, channel
             darter
           Three or more sensitive  fish  species

Randolph   Trout stream

Randolph   Various trout streams
           Lightly buffered stream

Webster    Trout stream
           Significant warmwater  fishery

Webster    Trout stream
Webster ,
Randolph
Webster,
Randolph
Webster
Webster
Webster
Webster
Webster
Webster
Trout stream
Lightly buffered
Trout stream
Lightly buffered
Trout stream
Trout stream
Trout stream
Trout stream
Trout stream
Trout stream
stream
stream






   Falls Run
                                       Webster
           High diversity, high  equitability
           Two or more macroinvertebrate  indicator
             species
           Three or more  sensitive  fish species
           Lightly buffered  stream

           Trout stream
                                               28

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Table 4.  Summary of major aquatic and water resources  in  the  Elk  River  Basin,  West Viryinia
  (continued).
     BIA Category II

   Laurel Fork

Old Lick Creek



Right Fork of Holly River




   Desert Fork

Laurel Creek


Sutton Reservoir
Webster




Webster

Webster


Braxton
Elk River (mainstem)
Braxton
Left Fork of Holly River

Birch River



   Little Birch River

Robinson Fork

Elk River (mainstem only)
Braxton

Braxton



Braxton

Nicholas

Clay
   Lilly Fork
Clay,
Nicholas
            Reason  for Designation

Trout stream

High diversity,  high  equitability
Three or more gamefish species
Three or more sensitive  fish  species

High diversity,  high  equitability
Lightly buffered  stream
Three or more gamefish species
Three or more sensitive  fish  species

Trout stream

Three or more sensitive  fish  species
Lightly buffered  stream

Important sport  fishery
Two or more macroinvertebrate  indicator
  species
High diversity,  high  equitability
WVDNR-HTP Species:  Silver lamprey

High diversity,  high  equitability
WVDNR-HTP Species:  Paddlefish,  channel
  darter
Two or more macroinvertebrate  indicator
  species
Three or more gamefish species
Three or more sensitive  fish species
Trout stream
Important warmwater fishery

Significant warmwater fishery

High diversity,  high  equitability
Three or more gamefish species
Three or more sensitive  fish species

Significant warmwater fishery

High equitability

High diversity, high equitability
WVDNR-HTP Species:  Silver lamprey,
  Tippecanoe darter,  Eastern sand darter
Three or more gamefish species
Three or more sensitive  fish species
Important warmwater fishery

Trout stream
High equitability
WVDNR-HTP Species: Ohio  lamprey
                                               29

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Table 4.   Summary of major aquatic and water resources in the Elk River Basin, West Virginia
  (concluded).
     BIA Category II

   Little Sycamore Creek


Elk Twomile Creek

     Non-Sensitive Areas

Buffalo Creek
Clay,
Nicholas

Kanawha

County

Clay,
Nicholas
            Reason for Designation

Two or more macroinvertebrate
  species

Significant sport fishery
                                               30

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The Gauley River Basin

     Potentially Significant  Impact  Areas  in
the Gauley River Basin  (Figure 8) have  been
designated by  EPA  on  the  basis of a  variety
of  criteria.    Aquatic  and  water  resource
evaluations have resulted  in  BIA  Category  II
identifications  in the Basin (Figure 9 and
Table 5), which,  in  turn,  are classified  by
EPA  as  PSIA's.    These  areas  are  oriented
toward  the  eastern  portion  of  the  Basin,
typically  in   the  higher   elevations  and
lesser  developed  areas  where a  variety  of
aquatic  resources  such   as   trout,   aquatic
species of  special interest,  and large and
varied  aquatic populations   (high diversity
and equitability values) are  found.

     In the Gauley River  Basin,  PSIA's  also
have been determined on the basis  of  Federal
land  holdings   dedicated   to  multiple   or
recreational  use  such as the   Monongahela
National   Forest,    the    Summersvile   Lake
Recreation  Area,  and  other Federal   land
holdings  and  interests.    All   lands  with
special   Federal   designations,   including
lands with Federal fee-simple ownership and
Federal surface ownership, are considered  to
be PSIA's.  Included  in  these PSIA  designa-
tions  are National  Special  Interest Areas
such as the Cranberry Back Country,  National
Wilderness Study Areas such as the Cranberry
Wilderness Study Area,  and National  Natural
Landmarks  such  as   the   Cranberry   Glades
Botanical Area.    EPA  intends  to rely  sub-
stantially on  the  inputs  of  the  respective
managing  Federal  agencies such  as  the  US
Forest Service  (Monongahela National  Forest)
and US Army Corps  of Engineers  (Summersville
Lake Recreation  Area)  when issues of  poten-
tial  New  Source  mining    impacts   arise.
Regardless of  other agency   involvement and
coordination,  however,  EPA  will  make  sure
that detailed  site-specific   evaluations are
undertaken when New  Source   mining  is  pro-
posed   in  or   adjacent   to  these   special
Federal land holdings and  interests.

     PSIA's   in   the  Gauley  River  Basin
include the  Gauley River,  Cranberry  River,
and  Meadow  River,  all of  which  have  been
designated by  Congress as  Study  Rivers for
potential inclusion in the National Wild and
Scenic  Rivers  System  (established  by  P.L.
90-542 in 1968).   The  System  is designed  to
protect    and     preserve    waters     with
"...remarkable  scenic,  recreational,   fish
and wildlife,  historic,  cultural,  or other
similar  values..."    These  Study   Rivers,
administered  by  the US  Department  of  the
Interior-Heritage       Conservation       and
Recreation  Service,  and a 1,000-foot  buffer
zone  on  each side will  be  protected  by  EPA
through  their PSIA classification.

      In  many  instances, PSIA criteria  over-
lap.    For  example,  many  BIA  Category  II
designations are  included in  the  Monongahela
National  Forest,  further  reinforcing  the
importance  of  the detailed  evaluations that
will  be  required  by  EPA in these  areas prior
to New Source  permit issuance.    More  speci-
fic PSIA locations are  as follows.

o  Gauley River.  in  Pocahontas,  Webster,
   and Rartdolph Counties, the Gauley  River
   watershed above the  confluence with the
   Williams River near  the town of
   Donaldson

o  Williams River.   in  Pocahontas and
   Webster Counties,  the entire Williams
   River watershed

o  Tea Creek:   in Pocahontas  County,  the  Tea
   Creek watershed

o  Cranberry River:   in Webster and
   Pocahontas Counties, the Cranberry  River
   watershed above the  Nicholas-Webster
   County border  approximately six miles
   upstream from  the  town of  Woodbine

o  Cherry River.  in  Greenbrier ana Nicholas
   Counties, the  watershed of the Cherry
   River, including  the North Fork and  South
   Fork

o  Laurel Creek:   in Greenbrier  and
   Nicholas Counties, the entire  watershed

o  Summit Lake.   in Greenbrier County,  the
   Lake with a generalized buffer zone
   including adjacent areas immediately
   upslope

o  Taylor Run:  in Nicholas County, the
   Taylor Run watershed

o  Panther Creek:  in Nicholas County,  the
   Panther Creek watershed

o  Muddlety Creek:   in  Nicholas County,  the
   Muddlety Creek watershed above the  town
   of Muddlety at the confluence  of
   McMillion Creek
                                              31

-------
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Table 5.  Summary of ma^or aquatic and water resources in the Gauley River Basin, West
  Virginia.  Waters include all watersheds unless specified as mainstem only.  Lakes  include
  a generalized buffer zone around the waterbody, encompassing all areas  (potential mine
  sites) which would discharge directly into the lake.
     BIA Category I               County

Little Elk Creek                  Nicholas
Gauley River                      Webster,
  (including Summersville         Nicholas,
  Lake) below confluence with     Fayette
  Williams River
Meadow River                      Greenbrier,
  (below confluence with          Fayette
  Big Clear Creek)

     BIA Category II              County

Gauley River                      Pocahontas,
  (above confluence               Webster,
  with Williams River)            Randolph
Williams River                    Pocahontas,
                                  Webster
                                          Reason for Designation

                              Two or more macroinvertebrate indicator
                                species

                              Trout stream (Summersville Lake tailwaters)
                                and trout lake
                              Important sport fishery, especially in
                                Summersville Lake
                              High diversity, high eguitability
                              WVDNR-HTP Species: Finescale saddled darter

                              High equitability
                              Important sport fishery
                                          Reason for Designation

                              The Gauley above its confluence with Big
                                Run is a trout stream; several of  its
                                tributaries are also trout streams
                              High equitability, high diversity
                              WVDNR-HTP Species: Finescale saddled darter

                              The Williams above Dyer is a trout stream;
                                there are numerour trout streams in the
                                drainage
                              Two or more macroinvertebrate  indicator
                                species
                              High diversity, high equitability
                              WVDNR-HTP Species: Finescale saddled darter,
                                                 Tonguetied  minnow,
                                                 New River shiner
   Tea Creek
Cranberry River
  (above Nicholas-Webster
  County Line)
Cherry River
 (including N. & S.
Forks)
Pocahontas      Trout stream
                Two or more macroinvertebrate  indicator
                  species
                WVDNR-HTP Species:  Finescale  saddled  darter

Webster,        The Cranberry and several of its  tributaries
Pocahontas        are trout streams
                Two or more macroinvertebrate  indicator
                  species
                WVDNR-HTP Species:  Tonguetied minnow

Greenbrier,     The Cherry and many of  its tributaries are
Nicholas          trout streams
                Two or more macroinvertebrate  indicator
                  species
                WVDNR-HTP Species: Finescale saddled darter,
                                   Tonguetied  minnow
                                              34

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Table 5.  Summary of ma3or aquatic  and  water  resources  in  the  Gauley River Basin,  west
  Virginia (concluded).
     BIA Category II

   Laurel Creek
   Summit Lake


Taylor Run

Panther Creek
Muddlety Creek
  (above Muddlety)

Hominy Creek
   Deer Creek


Collison Creek

Anglins Creek


Wolfpen Creek


Big Clear Creek


Little Clear Creek
County                      Reas_cxn  tor  Designation

Greenbrier,     Trout stream
Nicholas        WVDNR-HTP Species:  Finescale  saddled  darter,
                                    Tonyuetied  minnow,
                                    Kanawha  minnow

Greenbrier      Important sport  fishery
                Trout Lake

Nicholas        Trout stream

Nicholas        Trout stream
                Two or more macroinvertebrate  indicator
                  species

Nicholas        Trout stream
Nicholas        Hominy Creek and  several  of  its  tributaries
Greenbrier        are trout streams
                High equitability

Nicholas        Trout stream
                High equitability

Nicholas        Trout stream

Nicholas,       Anglins Creek and many of  its  tributaries
Greenbrier        are trout streams

Fayette,        Trout stream
Greenbrier

Greenbrier      Big Clear Creek and several  of  its  tribu-
                  taries are trout streams

Greenbrier      Little Clear Creek and several of its
                  tributaries are trout streams
     Non-Sensitive Areas
None
                                              35

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o  Hominy Creek:  in Nicholas and Greenbrier
   Counties, the entire watershed

o  Deer Creek:   in Nicholas County, the Deer
   Creek watershed

o  Collision Creek:  in Nicholas County, the
   Collision Creek watershed

o  Anglins Creek:  in Nicholas and
   Greenbrier Counties, the entire
   watershed

o  Wolfpen Creek:  in Fayette and Greenbrier
   Counties, the entire watershed

o  Big Clear Creek:  in Greenbrier County,
   the Big Clear Creek watershed

o  Little Clear Creek:  in Greenbrier
   County, the Little Clear Creek watershed

o  Monongahela National Forest:  in
   Nicholas, Webster, Pocahontas,
   Greenbrier,  and Randolph Counties, a
   large area of Federal fee-simple and
   surface ownership in the northeastern
   portion of the Basin.  The boundary  is
   extremely irregular; furthermore,
   considerable areas within the boundary
   are excluded from this PSIA because  of a
   lack of Federal ownership of any type.
   Included are the Cranberry Back County
   Special Interest Area, the Cranberry
   Wilderness Study Area, the Cranberry
   Glades Botanical Area, and numerous
   Federal Recreation Areas managed by  the
   US Forest Service and the US Army Corps
   of Engineers.
o  Summersville Lake Recreation Area.   in
   Nicholas County, a US Army Corps ot
   Engineers recreational area including
   those areas currently owned in whole or
   in part by the USAGE

o  Gauley River:  in Fayette, Nicholas,
   Webster, Pocahontas, and Randolph
   Counties, the mainstem corridor  including
   a 2,000-foot wide corridor centered  on
   the River, resulting from Wild and Scenic
   River status

o  Cranberry River:  in Nicholas, Webster,
   and Pocahontas Counties, the mainstem
   corridor including a 2,000-foot  wide
   corridor centered on the River,  resulting
   from Wild and Scenic River status

o  Meadow River:  in Fayette, Nicholas, and
   Greenbrier Counties, the mainstem  corri-
   dor including a 2,000-foot wide  corridor
   centered on the River, resulting from
   Wild and Scenic River status.

     BIA Category  I designation  as  enumer-
ated  in  Figure  9  and  Table  5   have  been
identified  by  EPA on  the basis  of  aquatic
and  water  resources data  and  are  protected
by  EPA  through  application of  mitigative
measures.   Other  resources  throughout  the
Basin   will    trigger   other   mitigative
measures.    No   non-sensitive   streams  have
been identified by EPA  in the Basin.
                                              36

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The Guyandotte River Basin

     The  Areawide  Environmental Assessment
Process  in  the  Guyandotte  River  Basin  has
designated  the  following  PSIA's (Figures  10
and 11 and Table  6):

o  Mud River:  in Cabell  County, the  Mud
   River watershed

o  Ona Lake:  in  Cabell County,  the Lake  and
   a generalized  buffer including adjacent
   areas immediately upslope

o  Trace Fork:  in Putnam and Lincoln
   Counties, the  watershed  is a  PSIA

o  Buffalo Creek:  in Wayne County, the
   entire Buffalo Creek watershed

o  Twelvepole Creek:  in Wayne County, the
   entire Twelvepole Creek  watershed

o  Beech Fork:  in Wayne County, the  entire
   Beech Fork watershed

o  Beech Fork Lake:  in Wayne County,  the
   Lake and a generalized buffer including
   adjacent areas immediately upslope

o  Millers Fork:  in Wayne  County, the
   Millers Fork watershed

o  East Fork of Twelvepole  Creek:  in Wayne
   County, the East Fork watershed

o  Camp Creek:  in Wayne County, the  Camp
   Creek watershed

o  Lynn Creek:  in Wayne County, the  Lynn
   Creek watershed

o  East Lynn Lake:  in Wayne County,  the
   Lake and a generalized buffer including
   adjacent areas immediately upslope
                in Wayne County, the


                in Wayne County, the


                                    in Wayne


               in Lincoln County,  the
Lick Creek:
watershed

Rich Creek:
watershed
Wer.t Fork of Twelvepole Creek:
County, the watershed
Big Creek:
watershed
                                                  Dairy Hollow:  in Logan County, the
                                                  watershed of Dairy Hollow

                                                  Stone Hollow:  in Logan County, the
                                                  watershed of Stone Hollow

                                                  Frog town Hollow:  in Logan County, the
                                                  watershed of Frogtown Hollow

                                                  Tug Fork Mainstem:  in Mingo, Wayne, and
                                                  McDowell Counties, the entire Tug Fork
                                                  mainstem from the town of Naugatauk
                                                  upstream
                                               o  Clear Fork:
                                                  watershed

                                               o  Laurel Fork:
                                                  water-shed
                in Wyoming County,  the
                  in Wyoming  County,  the
o  Guyandotte River Mainstem:   in Wyoming
   County, the Guyandotte River  mainstem
   from R. D. Bailey Lake upstream

o  Dry Fork:  in McDowell County, the
   watershed above the  town  of  War

o  Berwind Lake:  in McDowell County,  the
   Lake and a generalized buffer including
   adjacent areas immediately upslope.

     These PSIA's  exactly  coincide with all
BIA  Category  II  zones,  determined  on the
basis of existing aquatic and water  resource
data.   As Figure  11  and Table 6  indicate,
these BIA Category II's are  located  through-
out  the  Basin  and  are  based  on  a wide
variety  of  aquatic  resources.    Mitigative
measures will  be  applied in BIA Category  I
areas as well as in other areas  where  sensi-
tive  and  significant   resources  have been
identified.   Non-sensitive  areas,  based on
aquatic and  water  resource   evaluations, are
included  in  Table  6; no  additional  aquatic
and  water  resource measures beyond  current
New  Source effluent limitations  are  required
by EPA in non-sensitive areas.
                                              37

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Figure 10
POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT
IMPACT AREAS IN THE
GUYANDOTTE RIVER BASIN
                                              WATERSHEDS THAT
                                              ARE PSIA's

                                              RIVERS THAT ARE
                                              PSIA's
                              38

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Figure II
BIOLOGICALLY  IMPORTANT AREAS
AND NONSENSITIVE AREAS IN THE
GUYANDOTTE RIVER  BASIN
                                                 CATEGORY I
                                                 CATEGORY E
                                                 UNCLASSIFIED AREAS
                                        ••••••••   NONSENSITIVE STREAMS
   NOTE:
   STREAM CORRIDOR BIOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT AREAS HAVE BEEN EXAGGERATED FOR

   MAP  READIBILITY.

                                39

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Table 6.  Summary of major aquatic and water resources in the Guyandotte River Basin, West
  Virginia.   Waters include all watersheds unless specified as aiainstem only.  Lakes  include
  a generalized buffer zone around the waterbody, encompassing all areas (potential mine
  sites) which would discharge directly into the lake.
     BIA Category I

Davis Creek

Fourpole Creek



Guyandotte River (Mainstem)



Big Ugly Creek


Chief Logan Ponds (ponds only)

Huff Creek


Laurel Lake


Laurel Fork
Pigeon Creek

R.D. Bailey Lake


Little Huff Creek

Horse Creek Lake

Indian Creek

Pinnacle Creek


Panther Creek



Clear Fork (of Tug Fork)
County                   Reason for Designation

Cabell       Macroinvertebrate indicator species

Cabell       Macroinvertebrate indicator species
             Unusual macroinvertebrate species
             Rhyacophilia ribox (Applin and Tarter 1977)

Lincoln,     High diversity, high equitability
Logan        WVDNR-HTP Species:  Percina copelandi
Mingo

Lincoln      Macroinvertebrate indicator species
             High diversity

Logan        Trout lakes

Logan,       Trout stream
Wyoming      High diversity

Mingo        Trout lake
             Important sport fishery  (USFWS 1978)

Mingo        Macroinvertebrate indicator species
             Unusual macroinvertebrate species
             Baetisca berneri  (Tarter, and Kirchner 1978)
             Alloperla aracoma (Harper and Kirchner  1978;
             PeltoperTa arcuata (Tarter et al. 1976)

Mingo        High diversity

Mingo,       Recreational area and  important  sport
Wyoming        fishery

Wyoming      High diversity

Wyoming      Trout lake

Wyoming      High diversity, high equitability

Wyoming      Trout stream
             High diversity

McDowell     Trout stream
             Unusual macroinvertebrate species
             Baetisea berneri  (Tarter and Kirchner 1978)

McDowell     Trout stream
             High diversity, high equitability
                                               40

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Table 6.  Summary of major  aquatic  and  water  resources  in  the  Guyandotte  River Basin,  West
  Virginia  (continued).
     BIA Category II

Mud River
Ona Lake

Trace Fork
Buffalo Creek

Twelvepole Creek


Beech Fork


Beech Fork Lake



Millers Fork




East Fork of Twelvepole Creek



Camp Creek

Lynn Creek

East Lynn Lake

Lick Creek

Rich Creek

West Fork of Twelvepole Creek


Big Creek

Dairy Hollow

Stone Hollow
Cabel

Putnam,
Lincoln
Wayne

Wayne


Wayne


Wayne



Wayne




Wayne



Wayne

Wayne

Wayne

Wayne

Wayne

Wayne


Lincoln

Logan

Logan
             Reason  for  Designation

High  diversity,  high  equitability
WVDNR-HTP  Species:  Ammocrypta  pellucida
                    Phoxinus  erythrogaster
Unusual macroinvertebrate  species
Allocapnia  ohioensis  (Kirchner  1978)

Trout  lake

High  diversity
WVDNR-HTP  Species:  Phoxinus  erythrogaster
Unusual macroinvertebrate  species
Rhyacophilia  ribox  (Applin  and  Tarter  1977)

WVDNR-HTP  Species:  Phoxinus  erythrogaster

Unusual macroinvertebrate  species
Isoperla gibbsae  (Kirchner  1978)

High  diversity,  high  equitability
Macroinvertebrate indicator species

Recreational  area and important  sport  fishery
Unusual macroinvertebrate  species
Rhyacophilia  ledra  (Applin  and Tarter  1977)

High diversity
Macroinvertebrate indicator species
Unusual macroinvertebrate species
Rhyacophilia  ribox  (Applin  and Tarter  1977)

High diversity,  high  equitability
Macroinvertebrate indicator species
Trout  stream  (Tailwaters of E. Lynn Lake)

WVDNR-HTP Species:  Phoxinus  erythrogaster

WVDNR-HTP Species:  Phoxinus  erythrogaster

Recreational  area and important  sport  fishery

High diversity, high  equitability

High diversity, high  equitability

High diversity, high  equitability
Trout  stream

Macroinvertebrate indicator species

Macroinvertebrate indicator species

Macroinvertebrate indicator species
                                              41

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Table 6.  Summary of major aquatic and water resources in the Guyandotte River Basin, West
  Virginia (concluded).
     BIA Category II

Frogtown Hollow



Tug Fork (Mainstem)


Clear Fork

Laurel Fork

Dry Fork (upstream from War)

Berwind Lake

     Non-Sensitive Areas

Buffalo Creek
Dry Fork (downstream from War)
Elkhorn Creek
Grave Creek
Mate Creek
Mitchell Branch
Tommy Creek
Copperas Mine Fork
Trace Fork
Mingo
McDowell

Wyoming

Wyoming

McDowell

McDowell

County

Logan
McDowell
McDowell
Raleigh
Mingo
Mingo
Raleigh
Logan
Logan
            Reason for Designation

Macroinvertebrate indicator species
Unusual macroinvertebrate species
Alloperia aracoma (Harper and Kirchner 1978)

High diversity, high equitability
Trout stream

Important sport fishery (Reed 1974)

Trout stream

Trout lake

            Reason for Designation
                                               42

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The Monongahela River Basin

     Various  resources  in  the   Basin   have
given rise to PSIA designations  (Figure  12).
Federal land  holdings  dedicated   to multiple
or recreational  use  such as the  Monongahela
National Forest,  the  Tygart Lake  Recreation
Area,  and  other  Federal  land  holdings  and
interests in  fee-simple  or surface ownership
have been assigned PSIA  status.   Included  in
the National  Forest  are  the Otter Creek  and
Dolly  Sods  Wilderness  Areas,   the  Fernow
National  Experimental   Forest,   the  Bowden
Federal Fish  Hatchery,  the  Sinks of Gandy,
the Blackwater  Falls  Scenic Area, and  other
resources.   Several National  Natural  Land-
marks  (the   Gaudineer   Scenic  Area,  Canaan
Valley,   Shavers  Mountain   Spruce-Hemlock
Stand, Blister  Run Swamp,  Big Run Bog,  and
Fisher Spring Run  Bog)  also are   included  in
the National  Forest.   The  Cranesville  Swamp
Nature Sanctuary,  a National  Natural  Land-
mark not located within  the  Forest, also  has
been  designated  a PSIA.   EPA in all  cases
intends   to   maximize    input    from    the
respective  Federal  managing  agencies   (US
Forest Service  for the  National Forest  and
US Army  Corps of  Engineers for  the  Tygart
Valley  Recreation Area,  for  example)   when
issues regarding  New  Source  mining   impacts
arise.  Regardless  of  other agency involve-
ment  and  coordination,  however, EPA   will
assure  that  detailed  site-specific   evalua-
tions  are  conducted when  New  Source mining
is proposed  in  or  adjacent to these  special
Federal land  holdings and  interests.

     PSIA's  also  are based  on  BIA Category
II zones which,  in turn,  reflect the  exis-
tence of a  wide variety of  significant  and
sensitive   aquatic   and   water  resources
(Figure 13 and Table 7).   In many areas,  BIA
Category II  designations overlap with  other
PSIA criteria.
     Specif ic
follows:
PSIA
       locations
                    are
   Tygart Valley River:  in Marion, Taylor,
   Barbour, Upshur, and Randolph Counties,
   this PSIA includes the Tygart Valley
   River watershed upstream from Roaring
   Creek as well as the watersheds of Teter
   Creek, Frog Run, Webster Run, Wickwise
   Run, the Buckhannon River  (Panther Fork
   and upstream), Sand Run, Fresh Creek,
   Right Fork of Tenmile Creek, Little
   Laurel Run, Middle Fork River (upstream
                                    from Cassity Fork), Right  Fork  of  Middle
                                    Fork River, Hell Run, Service Run,  and
                                    Hang ing Run

                                 o  West Fork River:   in  Lewis  and  Upshur
                                    Counties, the watershed of  the  River
                                    upstream of Weston  including  Stonecoal
                                    Creek

                                 o  Youghiogheny River;   in Preston County,
                                    the PSIA includes  the watersheds of Snowy
                                    Creek and Rhine Creek

                                 o  Whiteday Creek:  in Monongalia  County,
                                    the Whiteday Creek  watershed

                                 o  Cheat River:  in Preston,  Tucker,
                                    Randolph and Pocahontas Counties,  the
                                    PSIA includes the  watershed of  the  Cheat
                                    River upstream from Pringle Run and the
                                    watersheds of Dry  Fork, Blackwater  River
                                    (upstream from Beaver Creek), Pendleton
                                    Creek, Shavers Fork,  Horseshoe  Run,
                                    Minear Run, Panther Run, Wolf Creek,
                                    Buffalo Creek, Saltlick Creek,  Bearwallow
                                    Run, Elsey Run, Daugherty  Run,  Roaring
                                    Creek (upstream from  Lick  Run),  Muddy
                                    Creek (upstream from  Jump  Rock  Run),
                                    Laurel Run, Laurel  Creek,  Blaney Hollow,
                                    Clover Run, Slip Hill Mill  Run,  and Wolf
                                    Run
                                    Elklick Run:
                                    watershed

                                    Chaffey Creek:
                                    watershed.
                  in Tucker  County,  the
                    in Tucker County,  the
     Areas where  EPA will impose  mitigative
measures specifically  to  protect  aquatic  and
water  resources  are shown in  Figure 13  and
Table 7.  Mitigative measures  may be imposed
elsewhere depending  upon  the resources  iden-
tified  in  the  SID.   Non-sensitive  areas
relating to aquatic  and water  resources also
are presented  in  Figure  13  and Table 7.   No
additional measures  will  be  required by  EPA
to  protect  the aquatic  and  water  resources
identified in  these  waterbodies.
                                               43

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                          PENNSYLVANIA
Figure  12
POTENTIALLY
SIGNIFICANT
IMPACT AREAS
IN THE MONONGAHELA
RIVER BASIN
      WATERSHEDS
      THAT ARE PSIA'S
                          44

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                          PENNSYLVANIA
Figure  13
BIOLOGICALLY
IMPORTANT
AREAS AND NON~
SENSITIVE AREAS
IN THE MONONGAHELA
RIVER BASIN
      CATEGORY I

      CATEGORY H

      NON-SENSITIVE  AREAS
                          45

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Table 7.  Summary of major aquatic and water resources  in the Monongahela  River  Basin,  West
  Virginia.  Waters include all watersheds unless  specified  as mainstem  only.  Lakes  include
  a generalized buffer zone around the waterbody,  encompassing all  areas  (potential mine
  sites) which would discharge directly  into the lake.
     BIA Category I

Monongahela River Mainstem


Dunkard Creek


Westover Park Lake


Buffalo Creek

West Fork Mainstem
  (Clarksburg to Weston)

Tenmile Creek (above
  Rockcamp Run)

Elk Creek


Hackers Creek
Tygart Valley River Mainstem
  (including Tygart Lake)
Buchannon River (from Panther
  Fork to mouth)

Coopers Rock Lake
Big Sandy Creek

Cheat River Mainstem
  (upstream from Pringle Run)
Thomas Park Lake
     BIA Category II

Whiteday Creek (above
  Smithtown)
Marion,
Monongalia

Monongalia
Monongalia
Marion

Harrison,
Lewis

Harrison
Harbour,
Harrison

Upshur,
Lewis,
Harrison

Marion,
Taylor,
Barbour
            Reason for Designation

Important sport fishery


Important sport fishery
High diversity, high equitability

Trout lake
Important recreational fishery

Important recreational fishery

Important recreational fishery


Important recreational fishery
Important recreational fishery
High equitability

High equitability
Important recreational fishery
Important recreational fishery
Upshur,      Important recreational fishery
Barbour

Monongalia   Trout lake
             Important recreational fishery
             Macroinvertebrate sample composed of at
               least 10 taxa and at least 50% sensitive
               individuals

Monongalia   High diversity, high equitability

Preston,     High equitability, high diversity
Tucker         (macroinvertebrates)
             Important recreational fishery

Tucker       Trout lake and important recreational
               fishery

County                   Reason for Designation

Marion,      Trout stream
Monongalia   High equitability
                                              46

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Table 7.  Summary of major aquatic and water resources  in the Monongahela  River  Basin,  West
  Virg inia (continued).
     BIA Category II

West Fork River (upstream from
  Weston, including Stonecoal
  Creek)
Wickwire Run

Frog Run

Teter Creek

Brushy Fork


Little Laurel Run

Tygart Valley River
  (above Roaring Creek)
Sand Run

French Creek

Right Fork (of Tenmile Creek)

Buckhannon River (upstream from
  and including Panther Fork)
Hanging Run

Service Run

Hell Run

Right Fork of Tygart Valley
Middle Fork River (above
  Cassity Fork)
Blaney Hollow

Laurel Creek (of Sandy Creek)
Taylor

Preston

Barbour

Barbour


Randolph

Randolph
Upshur

Upshur

Upshur

Uphur
Barbour

Upshur

Randolph

Upshur


Randolph



Monongalia

Preston
            Reason for Designation

High diversity, high equitability
Recreational fishery (Stonecoal Lake)
Trout lake (Stonecoal Lake)
High diversity (macroinvertebrates)

High equitability

Trout stream

Trout stream, Trout lake

Trout stream, Trout lake
High equitability

Trout stream

Headwaters and numerous tributaries are
  trout streams
High equitability, Recreational fishery
Two or more intolerant macroinvertebrates
Ten or more macroinvertebrate taxa and
  senstitive species making up at least 50%
  of the individuals

High equitability, high density

Trout stream

Trout stream

Headwaters of the Buckhannon and many
  Buckhannon tributaries are trout streams
High equitability, high diversity
Macroinvertebrate sample comprised of at
  least 10 taxa and at least 50% sensitive
  individuals

Trout stream

Trout stream

Trout stream

Trout stream
High equitability

High equitability
Mainstem and many tributaries are trout
  streams

Trout stream

Trout stream
                                              47

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Table 7. Summary of major aquatic and water resources in the Monongahela River Basin, West
Virginia (continued).
BIA Category II
Webster Run (of L. Sandy Creek)
Laurel Run
Muddy Creek (above Jump Rock Fork)
Roaring Creek (above Lick Run)
Daugherty Run
Elsey Run
Bearwallow Run
Saltlick Run

Buffalo Creek

Wolf Creek

Panther Run
Clover Run

Minear Run
Horseshoe Run
Slip Hill Mill Run
Wolf Run
Elklick Run
Pendleton Creek
Chaffey Creek of Beaver Creek
Blackwater River
County
Preston
Preston
Preston
Preston
Preston
Preston
Preston
Preston

Preston

Preston

Preston,
Tucker
Tucker

Tucker
Tucker ,
Preston
Tucker
Tucker
Tucker
Tucker
Tucker
Tucker
Reason for Designation
Trout stream
Trout stream
Trout stream
Trout stream
Trout stream
Trout stream
Trout stream
Trout stream
High equitability
Mainstem and two other streams in watershed
are trout streams
Wolf and Little Wolf Creeks are trout
streams
Trout stream
Trout stream
High equitability
Trout stream
Mainstem and many of its tributaries are
trout streams
Trout stream
Trout stream
Trout stream
Trout stream
Trout stream
Mainstem and several tributaries are trout
(above Beaver Creek)
  streams
High diversity (macroinvertebrates)
                                            48

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Table 7.  Summary of major aquatic and water resources  in  the Monongahela  River  Basin,  West
  Virginia (continued).
     BIA Category II

Shavers Fork
Dry Fork
Snowy Creek

Rhine Creek

Non-Sensitive Areas

Robinson Run (watershed)
West Run
Courtney Run
Scott's Run
Decker's Creek
Brand Run
Flaggy Meadow Run
Birchfield Run
Parker Run
West Fork Mainstem (Clarksburg
  to mouth)
Horner's Run (of Booths Creek)
Purdy Run

Mudlick Run
Simpson Creek
Threefork Creek (watershed)

Sandy Creek (watershed)
Ford Run
Tygart Valley River (from
  confluence with Roaring Creek
  to confluence with Buckhannon
  River
Tucker,
Randolph
Tucker,
Randolph
Preston

Preston

County

Monongalia
Monongalia
Monongalia
Monongalia
Monongalia
Monongalia
Monongalia
Monongalia
Marion
Marion,
Harrison
Marion
Marion,
Harrison
Harrison
Harrison,
Tyler,
Barbour
Taylor,
Preston
Taylor,
Barbour,
Preston
Barbour
Barbour,
Randolph
            Reason for Designation

Numerous trout streams in watershed
Two or more intolerant macroinvertebrate
  taxa
Macroinvertebrate sample composed of at
  least 10 taxa and at least 50% sensitive
  individuals
High diversity (macroinvertebrates)
High equitability
Important recreational fishery

Numerous trout streams in watershed
Two or more intolerant macroinvertebrate
  taxa
Macroinvertebrate sample composed of at
  least 10 taxa and at least 50% sensitive
  individuals
High diversity (fish & macroinvertebrates)
High equitability

Trout stream

Trout stream
                                              49

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Table 7.  Summary of major aquatic and water resources  in  the Monongahela  River  Basin,  West
  Virginia (concluded).


Non-Sensitive Areas                  County

Mud Lick Run (of Fink Run)           Upshur
Bridge Run (of Fink Run)             Upshur
Middle Fork River (from Cassity      Barbour,
  Fork to mouth)                     Upshur,
                                     Randolph
Whiteoak Run                         Upshur
Cassity Fork (watershed)             Randolph
Island Creek                         Barbour
Beaver Creek                         Barbour,
                                     Randolph
Grassy Run                           Randolph
Roaring Creek (watershed)            Randolph
Cheat River (from Pringle Run        Monongalia,
  downstream)                        Preston
Scott Run                            Preston
Bull Run                             Preston
Conner Run                           Preston
Greens Run (watershed)               Preston
Muddy Creek (below Jump Rock Run)    Preston
Martin Creek (watershed)             Preston
Jump Rock Run                        Preston
Roaring Creek (below confluence      Preston
  with Lick Run)
Morgan Run (watershed)               Preston
Heather Run                          Preston
Lick Run                             Preston
Pringle Run                          Preston
Blackwater River (below confluence   Tucker
  with Beaver Creek)
Big Run                              Tucker
Tub Run                              Tucker
Lindy Run                            Tucker
Finley Run                           Tucker
North Fork (watershed)               Tucker
Shays Run                            Tucker
Engine Run                           Tucker
Beaver Creek (watershed except for   Tucker
  Chaffey Creek)
                                              50

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                                                                                     r
The Ohio/Little Kanawha River Basin

     All    PSIA    designations    in    the
Ohio/Little  Kanawha   Basin  resulted  from
identification  of  significant and sensitive
aquatic  resources  (Figure  14   and  15  and
Table  8).   PSIA's  in  this  Basin, when con-
trasted with the other major river basins  in
West  Virginia,  are not  extensive.    These
areas  are  clustered in the extreme southern
and eastern  sections  of  the Basin, particu-
larly  in   the  upper  reaches  of  the  Little
Kanawha  River   watershed,   where  trout  and
other  noteworthy  species  in sizable popula-
tions  have been collected.   PSIA locations
are as follows:

o  North Fork Fishing Creek:  in Wetzel
   County, this PSIA includes the entire
   watershed

o  South Fork Fishing Creek:  in Wetzel
   County, the  entire watershed

o  McElroy Creek:    in Tyler and Doddridge
   Counties, the entire watershed
o  Little Kanawha River:  in Braxton, Lewis,
   Upshur, and Webster Counties, the entire
   watershed of the Little Kanawha  River
   from its confluence with Saltlick Creek
   to its headwaters; this PSIA  includes
   major streams such as Saltlick Creek,
   Knawls Creek, Falls Creek, Crooked Run,
   and the Right and Left Forks of  Little
   Kanawha River

o  Little Kanawha River Mainstem:   in
   Braxton, Calhoun, and Gilmer Counties,
   this PSIA includes only the mainstem
   corridor of the River from its confluence
   with Saltlick Creek downstream to the
   western Basin border near Annamoriah.

     In the Ohio/Little Kanawha River Basin,
several watersheds and stream corridors have
been  identified  as BIA  Category  I's,  where
special mitigative measures will be required
by   EPA   to   protect   aquatic   and   water
resources.   Non-sensitive   areas   could  be
designated  on  the  basis  of  the  existing
aquatic resource data.
                                              51

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Figure  14
POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AREAS IN
THE OHIO RIVER BASIN
        WATERSHEDS THAT ARE PSIA's
        RIVERS THAT ARE PSIA's
                                                        MONON6AUA CO
                                52

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Figure 15
BIOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT AREAS AND
NONSENSITIVE AREAS INTHE OHIO RIVER
BASIN
       CATEGORY I
       CATEGORY I
       UNCLASSIFIED AREAS
       NONSENSITIVE AREAS

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Table 8.  Summary of ma^or aquatic and water resources  in the Ohio/Little  Kanawha  River
  Basin, West Virginia.  Waters include all watersheds  unless specified as mainstem  only.
  Lakes include a generalized buffer zone around the waterbody, encompassing  all areas
  (potential mine sites) which would discharge directly  into the lake.
     BIA Category I

Tomlinson Run



Hardin Run (Mainstem)

Kings Creek

Cross Creek

Castleman's Run Lake

Bear Rock Lakes

Wheeling


Burches Run Lake

Grave Creek


Coon Run Embayment*
Ohio River*
  (Hannibal Lock and Dam)
Sugar Creek


Point Pleasant Creek

Middle Island Creek  (Mainstem)


Indian Creek

Conaway Run Lake

Buckeye Creek

Meathouse Fork
Hancock

Hancock

Brooke

Brooke

Ohio

Ohio,
Marshall

Marshall

Marshall


Marshall



Wetzel



Pleasant,
Tyler

Tyler

Tyler


Tyler

Tyler

Doddridge

Doddridge
            Reason for Designation

Trout stream
High diversity, high equitability
Macroinvertebrate indicator species

Macroinvertebrate indicator species

Trout stream

Trout stream

Trout lake

Trout lake

Trout stream


Trout lake

Trout lake
High equitability

High diversity
WVDNR-HTP Species:  Notropis buchanani
                    Hybopsis storeriana

WVDNR-HTP Species:  Hybobsis storeriana
                    Notropis buchanani
                    Percina copelandi

High equitability


High equitability

WVDNR-HTP Species:  Mooneye
Recreational fishery

High equitability

Trout lake

High equitability

WVDNR-HTP Species:  Notropis dorsalis
*Although these areas qualify as a Category I BIA,  the  size  of  flow  and  extent  of  dilution in
the Ohio River is such that  these  identified biota  are  not expected  to  be  affected by New
Source coal mines, as regulated.  Special  protection  beyond  the  New  Source effluent
limitations,  therefore,  is not  required.
                                               54

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Table 8.  Summary of major aquatic and water resources  in the Ohio/Little Kanawha  River
  Basin, West Virginia (continued).
     BIA Category I

Arnold Creek (Mainstem)

Bonds Creek

Pennsboro Water Supply Reservoir

Sand Fork (Mainstem)

Oil Creek

     BIA Category II

North Fork Fishing Creek and
  tributaries
South Fork Fishing Creek and
  tributaries

McElroy Creek and tributaries
Little Kanawha River (Mainstem below
  confluence with Saltlick Fork)
Little Kanawha River watershed (from
  confluence with Saltlick Creek
  upstream—see below)
   Saltlick Creek

   Knawls Creek

   Falls Creek

   Little Kanawha River

   Crooked Run

   Little Kanawha River

   Right Fork of Little Kanawha River
Wetzel
Tyler,
Doddridge

Braxton,
Calhoun,
Gilmer
Braxton,
Lewis,
Upshur,
Webster

Braxton

Braxton

Braxton

Braxton

Lewis

Lewis

Lewis
            Reason  for Designation

Macroinvertebrate indicator species

High diversity

Trout lake

Macroinvertebrate indicator species

Macroinvertebrate indicator species

            Reason  for Designation

Trout stream
High diversity, high equitability
WVDNR-HTP Species:  Phoxinum erythrogaster

Trout stream
High equitability

High diversity and  high equitability
High diversity
WVDNR-HTP Spe c i e s:
Ammocrypta pellucida
Etheostoma tippecanoe
Polyodon spaThula
Clinostomus elongatus
High diversity, high equitability

High diversity, high equitability

Macroinvertebrate indicator species

High diversity

Macroinvertebrate indicator species

Trout stream

Trout stream
                                              55

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Table 8.  Summary of major aquatic and water resources  in  the Ohio/Little Kanawha  River
  Basin, West Virginia (concluded).


     BIA Category II                                          Reason  for Designation

   Right Fork of Little Kanawha River  Webster    Trout stream

   Left Fork of Little Kanawha River   Upshur     Trout stream
                                                  High  equitability

   Little Kanawha River                Upshur     Trout stream

Non-Sensitive Areas                    County

None
                                               56

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The North Branch Potomac River Basin

     PSIA designations  in  the  North Branch
Potomac  River Basin  coincide  exactly  with
BIA Category  II  areas  (Figure  16  and Table
9).   In  all  cases,  these areas  are trout
stream  watersheds.    In   the  case   of  New
Creek, one  species  of special interest (the
Potomac  sculpin)   as  listed  by  the WVDNR-
Heritage Trust Program  also has been  identi-
fied.      Specific   PSIA  locations   are  as
follows:
   Fairfax Run:
   watershed
in Grant County, the entire
o  Wilsonia Run:  in Grant County, the
   entire watershed

o  Elk Run:  in Grant County, the entire
   watershed

o  Dobbin Ridge Run:  in Grant County, the
   entire watershed

o  Red Oak Creek:  in Grant County, the
   entire watershed

o  Buffalo Creek:  in Grant County, the
   entire watershed upstream from the con-
   fluence with Little Buffalo Creek
                                   Difficult Creek:
                                   entire watershed
                     in Grant County,  the
o  Unnamed Stony River Tributaries:   in
   Grant County, these watershed areas
   extend upstream from  the extreme
   southernmost reach of Stony River  Reser-
   voir and are bounded  on the west and
   south by the Grant-Tucker County border.

o  Wymer Run:  in Grant  County, the
   watershed

o  Wycroff Run:  in Grant County,  the
   watershed
                                o  Johnnycake Run:
                                   watershed
                    in Grant County,  the
                                   New Creek:  in Grant and Mineral
                                   Counties, the watershed
                                   Howe11 Run:
                                   watershed.
                in Mineral County,  the
                                     No  BIA Category  I areas  were  identi-
                                fied, and  no  non-sensitive streams could  be
                                determined  from existing data.
                                                57

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Figure 16
POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT  IMPACT AREAS IN
THE NORTH  BRANCH POTOMAC RIVER BASIN,
WEST VIRGINIA.  These  areas are  the water-
sheds of Category II Biologically Important Areas.
                                  58

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 Table  9.   Summary  of  major  aquatic  and  water resources in the North Branch Potomac River
   Basin,  West  Virginia.   Waters  include all watersheds unless specified as mainstem only.
   Lakes  include  a  generalized  buffer zone  around the waterbody,  encompassing all areas
   (potential mine  sites)  which would discharge directly into the lake.
     BIA  Category  I

None

     BIA  Category  II

Fairfax Run

Wilsonia  Run

Elk Run

Dobbin Ridge Run

Red Oak Creek

Buffalo Creek  (above  confluence
  with Little  Buffalo Creek)

Difficult Creek

Un-named  Stony River  Tributary

Un-named  Stony River  Tributary

Un-named  Stony River  Tributary

Un-named  Stony River  Tributary

Un-named  Stony River  Tributary

Wymer Run

Wycroff Run

Johnnycake Run

New Creek Dam #14

Howell Run

New Creek


     Non-Sensitive Areas

Buffalo Creek (below confluence
  with Little Buffalo Creek)

Glade Run

Little Buffalo Creek
County
Grant
Grant
Grant
Grant
Grant
Grant
Grant
Grant
Grant
Grant
Grant
Grant
Grant
Grant
Grant
Mineral
Mineral
Mineral ,
Grant
County
Grant
Grant
Grant
Trout
Trout
Trout
Trout
Trout
Trout
Trout
Trout
Trout
Trout
Trout
Trout
Trout
Trout
Trout
Trout
Trout
Reaso:
stream
stream
stream
stream
stream
stream
stream
stream
stream
stream
stream
stream
stream
stream
stream
stream
stream
Trout stream
WVDNR-HTP Species








Reason for Designation
Reason for Designation
        Potomac sculpin
                                              59

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Table 9.  Summary of major aquatic and water  resources  in  the  North  Branch Potomac River
  Basin, West Virginia  (concluded).
     Non-Sensitive Areas

Little Creek

Stony River (below US Rt. 50)

Abram Creek


North Branch of Potomac
  (headwaters to Luke MD)

Emory Creek

Lynwood Run

Montgomery Run

Piney Swamp Run

Slaughterhouse Run
Grant,
Mineral

Grant,
Mineral

Mineral

Mineral

Mineral

Mineral

Mineral
                                             60

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                                          APPENDIX
Ray George
Environmental Protection Agency
Wheeling Field Office
303 Methodist Building
llth and Chapline Streets
Wheeling, West Virginia 26003

Mr. Stephen Crowley
Morgantown Public Library
373 Spruce Street
Morgantown, West Virginia 26505

Mrs. Ellen Ontko
Clarksburg - Harrison Public Library
404 West Pike Street
Clarksburg, West Virginia 26301

Ms. Catherine Wilson
Gibson Public Library
Buckhannon, West Virginia 26201

Ms. Helen W. Feaster Librarian
Elkins - Randolph County Public Library
416 Davis Avenue
Elkins, West Virginia 26241

BCR, Inc.
Library
350 Hockberg Road
Monroeville, PA 15146

Cross Lanes Branch Library
5451 Big Tyler Road
Nitro, West Virginia

Southern Area Library
Lost Creek
West Milford, West Virginia

Elizabeth Stevenson Memorial Library
400 North Broad Street
Summersville, West Virginia 26651
Clendenin Public Library
104 Cardinal Street
Elkview, West Virginia

Kanawha County of Public Library
123 Capitol Street
Charleston, West Virginia

So. Chas. Public Library
312 4th Avenue
South Charleston, West Virginia

Belaire Public Library
32nd and Guernsey
Bellaire, Ohio

Bridgeport Public Library
334 Main Street
Bridgeport, Ohio

City-County Public Library
700 5th Street
Moundsville, West Virginia

Martins Ferry Public Library
20 South 5th Street
Martins Ferry, Ohio

McMechen Public Library
23 8th Street
Wheeling, West Virginia

Miracle Valley Regional Library
700 5th Avenue
Moundsville, West Virginia

Ohio County Public Library
52 16th Street
Wheeling, West Virginia
                                            61

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Coal Mining and a Clean Environment:
        The Time is Now...

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