Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessment
A Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessment (CHIA) is a process used to evaluate the combined hydrologic effects of a proposed mining operation and all other similar activities within a defined cumulative impact area. A CHIA is designed to ensure that mining activities do not cause material damage to the hydrologic balance outside the permit area while minimizing impacts within it.
The Division of Mine Permits (DMP) is responsible for assessing the impact of a proposed coal mining operation on the environment by performing a CHIA for each application. The data is organized by the watershed’s Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC), which is used to identify the unique watershed. The data may include surface water quality, benthic information, groundwater quality, water quality violations, pollutant discharge elimination information, mine history and information regarding pending mines.
Watershed Trend Station Data
The Department for Natural Resources (DNR) provides water quality data from in-stream sampling sites throughout the Kentucky coalfields. The data represents analyses of water samples taken quarterly beginning in July 2010 to the present. Samples are collected from 126 sites in the eastern and western coalfields. This project was initially funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. However, Kentucky has funded the continuation of the project since 2016.
To access the data from a specific point, locate the Trend Station ID for the monitoring station of interest on the Water Trend Station ID Table. In Surface Mining Information System (SMIS), enter the applicable Trend Station ID under the Water Quality, Trend Stations page search field. Additional information on available data for each trend station may be found in the application. Note that any concentrations with a "null" value indicate concentrations below laboratory detection limits for that sample.
For additional information, contact Thomas Barbour at Thomas.Barbour@ky.gov.