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Findings of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety <br />for the <br />Yoast Mine <br />Explanation of Findings <br />Pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2) of the Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board <br />for Coal Mining, and the approved state program, the Division of Reclamation, Mining and <br />Safety or the Board must make specific written findings prior to issuance of a permit, permit <br />renewal or permit revision. These findings are based on information made available to the <br />Division that demonstrates that the applicant will be able to operate in compliance with the <br />Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act and the Regulations promulgated pursuant to <br />the Act. <br />The findings in the following sections required by Rule 2.07.6(2) are listed in accordance with <br />that Rule. The findings and specific approvals required pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2)(m) are listed <br />in accordance with Rule 4 and are organized under subject or discipline subtitles. <br />This findings document is updated upon permit renewal, which occurs every five years for most <br />mines. This is the renewal findings document for the Yoast Mine, which has a five year permit <br />term. The following findings were reevaluated and updated if necessary to reflect changes which <br />have occurred during the past permit term. Any stipulations from the original permit and <br />findings document or subsequent revisions that have been totally resolved to the satisfaction of <br />the Division have been removed from this document. <br />Section A — Findings required by Rule 2.07.6 <br />1. The permit application is accurate and complete. All requirements of the Act and these <br />rules have been complied with (2.07.6(2)(a)). <br />2. Based on information contained in the permit application and other information available <br />to the Division, the Division finds that surface coal mining and reclamation can be feasibly <br />accomplished at the Yoast Mine (2.07.6(2)(b)). <br />3. The assessment of the probable cumulative impacts of all anticipated coal mining in the <br />general area on the hydrologic balance, as described in 2.05.6(3), has been made by the <br />Division. This assessment entitled "Yampa River Cumulative Hydrologic Impact <br />Assessment" is available for inspection at the offices of the Division. The Division finds <br />that the operations proposed under the application have been designed to prevent damage <br />to the hydrologic balance outside the proposed permit area. Please refer to Section B.III <br />(Hydrologic Balance) of this document for additional discussion of the predicted <br />hydrologic consequences of mining operations at the Yoast Mine (2.05.6(3) and 4.05). <br />4. The Division finds that the affected area is, subject to valid rights existing as of August 3, <br />1977, not within: <br />14 <br />