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impacts to the alluvial ground water would also have had the potential to impact the quality or quantity <br />of water within the Colorado River. <br />The subcrop of the Wheeler seam is located approximately 55 feet above the alluvium and dips steeply <br />away from the alluvial body. Undermining of the alluvial body did not occur during the life of the mine. <br />Therefore, dewatering of the Wheeler seam due to mining is not an expected impact to the alluvium or <br />surface water system of the Colorado River. (For further information see Alluvial Valley Floor, Section <br />IX of this document.) <br />Actual operations for the Coal Ridge No. 1 Mine included only minor disturbance on the surface, and <br />developmental work for two portals. The surface disturbance totaled approximately 35 acres. NCIG <br />has constructed drainage control structure's which treat runoff from 50 acres, only 35 of which were <br />disturbed. Runoff from the majority of the area (37 acres) is treated prior to release in Sediment Pond <br />A. There are 13 acres which include undisturbed area and small disturbed areas which have been <br />designated as alternate sediment control areas, where runoff is detained in catchment sumps and <br />filtered prior to discharge. <br />The major water rights owned by the applicant are from the Vulcan Ditch, which originates in Canyon <br />Creek a tributary to the Colorado River on the north side of the river. The water from this ditch is <br />siphoned underneath the Colorado River and has historically been used to flood irrigate the alluvial <br />valley floor north and east of the surface facilities. Since plans to operate the mine have been <br />abandoned, there will be no consumptive use of water other than irrigation. During low -flow periods,the <br />applicant has committed to giving priority to irrigation of the historic alluvial valley floor. Accordingly, <br />the operation is not expected to impact flows in the Colorado River, or to have a negative impact on <br />surface water rights holders. <br />An analysis of Probable Hydrologic Consequences of the Coal Ridge No. 1 Mine has been performed <br />by the applicant, as required under Rule 2.05.6(3). Several effects from the proposed operations which <br />were identified never occurred. Therefore there have not been and are not predicted to be effects <br />which would adversely impact the overall hydrologic balance of the permit and adjacent areas. The <br />operations proposed within the permit area were designed to prevent material damage to the hydrologic <br />balance outside the proposed permit area. Appropriate measures within the application were <br />implemented to ensure the protection of the quality and quantity of surface and ground waters within <br />both the proposed permit and adjacent areas, from the adverse effects of the proposed mining activities. <br />The assessment of the probable cumulative impacts of all anticipated coal mining in the general area on <br />the hydrologic balance, as described in 2.05.6(3), has been made and updated by the Division. This <br />assessment, entitled Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessment for the Upper Colorado River <br />Basin, Volume II, is available for inspection at the offices of the Division. The Division fords that the <br />reclamation operations proposed under the application have been designed to prevent damage to the <br />hydrologic balance outside the proposed permit area. <br />In conclusion, no significant impacts to the hydrologic balance are projected at the Coal Ridge No. 1 <br />facilities. Monitoring data from 1988 to present indicate no adverse impacts which could be attributedto <br />the operation have occurred. The Division finds that there would be no, or insignificant, probable <br />hydrologic impacts from approval of the application. <br />Coal Ridge Mine <br />Permit Renewal No. 7 15 December 5, 2016 <br />