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results of this report tend to confirm the assertion that the Fruitland Formation and the <br />Pictured Cliffs Sandstone are not being utilized as aquifers in the Durango area (certainly <br />not within 2 miles of the mine site as State Engineer's well records indicate). Indeed, the <br />basic premise that the formations are aquifers in the Durango area becomes suspect. <br />The overall operation/reclamation plan has been established to protect the quality of <br />surface and ground water. Surface water outside of the disturbed area is diverted, as <br />much as possible, into adjacent drainages which drain to the Animas River. The <br />diversions were constructed according to Section 4.05 of the Performance Standards to <br />prevent the erosion of, or adverse effects to, adjacent areas. <br />There are no users of water from the strata in the mining operation. Consequently, the <br />use of water in the coal seams and fractures will not adversely impact any known users. <br />The mining operation used water for dust suppression, preparation facilities and <br />domestic/sanitary uses. It was estimated that the total water used amounted to no more <br />than 20 acre-feet/year for dust suppression, five acre-feet/year for sanitary facilities, and <br />50 acre-feet/year for other uses. <br />Protection of the Hydrologic Balance <br />The mining and reclamation plan for the Carbon Junction Mine has minimized the <br />impacts to the prevailing hydrologic balance within and adjacent to the permit area in the <br />following ways. <br />Surface Water <br />Surface water entering the permit area is either diverted around and away from disturbed <br />areas, or is passed into the sediment control system where it ultimately discharges from a <br />sediment pond designed and constructed in accordance with CDRMS requirements or <br />evaporates from the site. There are no longer any open pits, therefore there is no ponding <br />of water on the coal seam, which could potentially lead to acidification of surface water. <br />Surface water was directed to the surface water drainage system, ultimately leading to the <br />sediment ponds. The permanently reclaimed spoils area has a designed underdrain <br />system which controls drainage, and passes any water reaching the underdrain to Carbon <br />Junction below. <br />Acidic drainage was observed from a spring in the vicinity of the South Pit in the late <br />1990's. This spring was a natural spring which emanated from strata unaffected by coal <br />mining. This surface drainage was mitigated in two ways; first, the drainage was <br />controlled by the sediment control system, second, the natural conditions of the earth <br />materials within the ditch neutralize the acidic natural of the surface water within several <br />yards of the appearance of the surface water. <br />While the above addresses mitigation of impacts to surface water quality, surface water <br />quantity is likewise protected by the mining and reclamation plan at the Carbon Junction <br />Abridged Permit Document 5-25 Permit Revision PR01 9/2014 <br />