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Name of Addressee <br />Page 3 <br />Date <br />the anticipated future long-term, full-scale dewatering requirements, but also to handle <br />very limited initial dewatering and transfer of those limited flows to the existing mine <br />water handling system (6MN Reservoir and 10 -Right Pipeline, as noted). From the 10 - <br />Right Pipeline, the water can be moved through the existing system to the Fish Creek <br />Water Treatment Facility (currently idle), the 18 -Left Pipeline and Borehole (existing — <br />which would allow transfer of water to sealed and abandoned mine workings in the <br />Western Mining District), the mine facilities area for use in the existing Washplant, or the <br />existing transfer pipeline to the Barricade Chamber (routes water back underground for <br />mine use). <br />TC currently handles mine dewatering flows within the existing system, the current <br />system is operated at levels which provide a significant margin between actual and design <br />capacities, and any dewatering inputs to the system from the Wolf Creek Reserve would <br />be limited by existing system capacity. Currently, TC's comprehensive mine water <br />handling and recycling program balances mine water inputs with use so that there is <br />negligible discharge to area streams (other than surface runoff which is routed through <br />the existing drainage and sediment control system), and any discharge which does occur <br />complies with applicable CDPS permit effluent limitations. Any flows from the initial <br />mine dewatering would be limited by the capacity of the existing mine water handling <br />system, with some flexibility to handle any excess water by routing it through the <br />existing system to sealed and abandoned mine workings in the Western Mining District, <br />consistent with current practice. It should be noted that the pipeline extension which <br />would serve the potential future passive treatment system would be constructed, but <br />would not be activated (shut-off valve at 6MN Reservoir) until such time as required <br />permit approvals are obtained and construction of the passive treatment system is <br />completed. <br />Protection of the hydrologic balance and probable hydrologic consequences for the <br />existing mine water handling system are addressed by the descriptive text in Section <br />2.05.6(3) (pages 2.05-127.1 through 2.05-167). Given that construction and use of the <br />proposed pipelines is simply another connection to the existing system, would operate <br />within the capacity limits and constraints of the existing system, and would not result in <br />any significant changes or increased potential hydrologic impacts, additional plans and <br />analysis are not necessary at this time. <br />b. Division's Response: Resolved <br />