Laserfiche WebLink
RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS <br />boundary. As it flows north, the creek crosses the Collom syncline and past the Iles formation <br />and onto the Mancos Shale when it leaves the permit boundary. <br />Therefore, like Good Spring Creek, the geologic conditions of the area preclude point of <br />compliance monitoring in Wilson Creek. <br />Water Quality <br />The quality of the water in the area of the CM was rated as poor by the USGS in the 1970's and <br />the water designated for limited agricultural use. Since USGS testing in 1978, water quality <br />analysis performed at monitoring points at the CM have not shown any significant difference in <br />water quality compared with the initial USGS work. The water is slightly saline, alkaline and <br />definitely classified as `hard' water. This can be seen in the water quality measurements for total <br />dissolved solids (TDS) and electrical conductivity (eC). Both TDS and eC exceed the EPA <br />secondary drinking water standards. <br />Since the water is alkaline, the pH is above seven (7), but rarely exceeding 8.4. Concentrations of <br />heavy metals rarely exceed health limits, as stated in the USGS report. This has also been backed <br />up by the ground water monitoring performed since the CM began operation. <br />Conclusions <br />With respect to bedrock ground water, the current Colowyo mine area and possible future mining <br />areas on the Colowyo property has no single or multiple continuous geologic units that contains <br />ground water under unconfined or confined conditions. The only ground water encountered is the <br />discontinuous perched pockets of ground water, some of which may be in saturated conditions. <br />This lack of ground water, except for discontinuous perched ground water pockets, encountered <br />during mining precludes the necessity to monitor ground water on a ridge top. <br />4.05.14 — 4.05.18 Various Topics <br />These sections are addressed in the original permit and will not change with addition of the <br />Collom permit revision. <br />4.06 TOPSOIL <br />The topsoil removal, storage, and redistribution plan for the proposed disturbed area associated with <br />the Collom Lite and Little Collom X mining areas will follow the procedures described Section <br />2.05.3 (5) and 2.05.4 (2) (d) of this Permit Revision document. Additional information regarding the <br />topsoil resource may be found in the Collom Soils baseline survey located in Exhibit 9. <br />General Requirements <br />Before the disturbance of any area, topsoil is removed and segregated from other material. Upon <br />removal, this material is either immediately redistributed on regraded areas or stockpiled in <br />locations shown on the Topsoil Handling Map 28C. <br />Removal <br />All topsoil, as classified in section 2.04.9, is removed from areas to be affected by the surface <br />coal mining operations. The graphical representation of the topsoil removal is shown on the <br />Topsoil Handling Map (Map 28C). This map has been greatly simplified from that of the original <br />application to reflect actual on -the -ground operations. The techniques for removal of woody plant <br />Collom — Rule 4, Page 21 Revision Date: 9/28/11 <br />Revision No.: PR -03 <br />