Impacts of the groundwater drawdown on surface waters were analyzed both
with and without
Exxon's mitigation proposal. Without mitigation, the drawdown would lower
the average levels of
several lakes and decrease flows in area streams and springs. Computer modeling
shows that the
level of Little Sand Lake would drop about 7 feet. Skunk and Deep Hole Lakes
also would be
significantly affected. However, regional lakes including Ground Hemlock,
Rolling Stone, St. Johns,
and Walsh Lakes would not be significantly impacted. Hemlock, Hoffman, and
Upper Pickerel Creeks
along with two unnamed creeks (12-9 and 11-4) would experience reduced flows.
Swamp Creek
(above Rice Lake) also would be adversely affected during periods of low
flow. Available habitat for
fish and other aquatic organisms and trout spawning habitat would be substantially
decreased.

Exxon proposes to mitigate surface water impacts by pumping water from a
system of interception
wells near the mine in the glacial aquifer, from the uncontaminated groundwater
collection system
within the mine and from dedicated wells near streams. Exxon 's plan, however,
may not provide
sufficient water to mitigate all impacts to surface waters. Pumping groundwater
from around the
mine and from dedicated wells near streams for mitigation would further reduce
groundwater
contributions to surface waters, potentially resulting in a shortfall of
mitigation water. Any shortfall
could cause detrimental impacts to public rights in these waters. The specific
rights and/or surface
waters which would be affected by a shortfall would depend on how the available
mitigation water
was allocated.

The approximately 1300 gpm of wastewater discharged to Swamp Creek would
contain sulfate and
very low levels of various metals. A moderate increase in sulfate and very
small increases in metals
levels would result in Swamp Creek. A slight increase in sulfate and little
or no change in metals
concentrations would occur in the Wolf River below the confluence of Swamp
Creek. No long-term
impacts to aquatic life or other uses of these or downstream waters are expected.

Leachate seeping from the MWDF would enter the groundwater and eventually
discharge into area
streams. The contaminant plume would primarily flow eastward toward Hemlock
Creek with a
smaller plume flowing to the southwest. The computer predicted maximum (steady
state) sulfate
concentration would be 6.9 mg/l in Hemlock Creek and 0.35 mg/l in Creek 12-9.
These
concentrations would not represent appreciable changes in water quality.
Other leachate
contaminants would not be expected to move far from the MWDF. Formation of
an acidic solution
from pyrite oxidation in the tailings is not expected to be significant due
to the nearly anaerobic
conditions and long-term reduction of most infiltration.

Air pollutant emissions during construction and operation would not cause
any exceedance of air
quality standards and would not be noticeable more than a few miles from
the project site.
Concentrations of toxic metals for which standards have not been established
would be substantially
below existing guidelines. Total suspended particulates (TSP) would be the
pollutant with the highest
emission rate. Dispersion modeling projects an increase in TSP levels, but
not beyond those found in
other rural areas. Deposition of toxic metals on the mining site and on area
lakes would be
insignificant.

Noise from construction and operation phases would be audible at several
sensitive receptor
locations. Project noise could reach levels which people might find disturbing
at Little Sand and
Ground Hemlock Lakes and at other areas within a 2 to 3 mile radius of the
mine.

Approximately 25% of the construction jobs and 50% of the 620 direct operation
jobs at the mine/mill
could be filled by area residents. The remaining jobs would be filled by
inmigrants. An additional 310
jobs would result indirectly from the project. About 1600 new residents,
including 700 school age
children, are projected to locate primarily in the Crandon, Antigo, and Rhinelander
areas.
Approximately 480 new housing units would be required during the operations
period. Due to the
projected increase in school-aged children, the Crandon, Elcho, Rhinelander
and Antigo School
Districts would have increased costs. Local municipalities would need to
provide services for the
inmigrant population and related development. Forest County, the Crandon
School District, and the
Township of Lincoln would experience significant reductions in property tax
rates.



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