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Findings of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety <br /> <br />for the Trapper Mine <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Information Source and Order of Findings <br /> <br />These findings are based on information made available to the Division that demonstrates the <br />applicant will be able to operate in compliance with the Colorado Surface Coal Mining <br />Reclamation Act and the Regulations promulgated pursuant to the Act. As explained in the <br />preceding section titled Introduction, various state laws require that these findings be made prior <br />to approval of a permit renewal or revision. <br /> <br />The findings which are required by Section 2.07.6(2) of the Regulations are listed in the same <br />order as they are listed in that Section. The findings and specific approvals required by Section <br />2.07.6(2)(m) and Rule 4 are listed in the same order as they are listed in that Section and in Rule <br />4, and are organized under subject or discipline subtitles. <br /> <br />These findings were reevaluated and updated from the previous findings document to reflect <br />changes which have occurred during the past permit term. Any stipulations from the original <br />permit and findings document or subsequent revisions that have been totally resolved to the <br />satisfaction of the Division have been removed from this document. <br /> <br />Part A - Findings required by Section 2.07.6(2) <br /> <br />1. The permit application is accurate and complete. All requirements of the Act and the <br />Regulations promulgated there under have been complied with (2.07.6(2)(a)). <br /> <br />2. Based on information contained in the permit application and other information available to <br />the Division, the Division finds that surface coal mining and reclamation can be feasibly <br />accomplished at the Trapper Mine (2.07.6(2)(b)). <br /> <br />3. The assessment of the probable cumulative impacts on the hydrologic balance by all <br />anticipated coal mining in the general area, as described in 2.05.6(3) has been reviewed for <br />PR7 by the Division. This assessment, titled Yampa River Cumulative Hydrologic Impact <br />Assessment (CHIA), is available for inspection at the Division's Denver office. The work <br />proposed in PR7 is not likely to cause a significant change in the hydrologic balance outside <br />the permit area; therefore, the CHIA remains current. Page 63 of the CHIA document <br />explains that potential spoils springs on the Trapper Mine may increase total dissolved solids <br />(TDS) in the Yampa River by 9 to 89 mg/l, depending on the month. This contribution, in <br />conjunction with TDS contributions to the Yampa River from other mining operations in the <br />watershed, will not degrade the river's waters to the 750 mg/l TDS level, the level the <br />Division considers as having potential for causing material damage (Page 65 of the Yampa <br />River CHIA explains the 750 mg/l suspect level). Pollutants other than dissolved solids can <br />also be expected to be below suspected material damage threshold levels. Therefore, the <br />Division finds that the operations proposed in the application have been designed to prevent <br />damage to the hydrologic balance outside the permit area. Please refer to section B. III. of <br /> <br /> <br />23 <br /> <br />Trapper MineJuly 9, 2013 <br /> <br />