2018-04-13_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A

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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS Much of the upper reaches of Taylor Creek above the West Taylor Pond will be directly impacted by the South Taylor Pit, and the permeant West Taylor Fill (see Map 23A). The West Taylor Pond will protect the lower reaches of Taylor Creek that will not be disturbed during mining and reclamation. It is expected that during mining the South Taylor Pit will intercept and hold surface water runoff thus providing less discharge through the West Taylor Pond. Once mining is complete the entire South Taylor Pit will be backfilled and the pre -mine profile and function of the upper reaches of Taylor Creek will be restored. One best management practice structure (sediment sump) lies within the stream buffer zone on Taylor Creek. This structure manages storm water runoff from the haul road and provides a benefit to Taylor Creek by caputuring stormwater runoff from the haul road. This structure is not anticipated to have any impacts to Taylor Creek, and provides a benefit in protecting stormwater runoff to Taylor Creek. The Taylor Pump Holding Pond was constructed within 100' of Taylor Creek. The Taylor Pump Holding Pond is utilized to manage water movement from Wilson Reservoir to the active operation; therefore, an underground water pipeline that transports water to and the from the Taylor Pump Holding Pond was also constructed at various locations within 100' of Taylor Creek as shown on Map l OC. Neither of these structures has impacted Taylor Creek, and neither structure is expected to have any long term impacts to Taylor Creek. A water diversion structure is constructed in Taylor Creek that allows Colowyo to divert water from Taylor Creek to exercise a water right. This structure would be utilized even if mining was not occurring at Colowyo, as Colowyo is the private surface landowner utilizing a privately held water right structure. A light use road that was a premine "ranch" road follows along Taylor Creek. This road is utilized to access the West Pit, East Taylor, and West Taylor sediment ponds. The road has been improved upon from its premine condition to allow equipment access for dredging activities and continued environmental monitoring. The lower reach of the road where it begins off of the paved haul road up to the East Taylor Pond, snakes in and out of the 100' stream buffer zone off of Taylor Creek. The upper reach from the East Taylor Pond to the West Taylor Pond is almost exclusively within the 100' stream buffer zone due to steep topography. To date this road has not created any adverse impacts to Taylor Creek, and it is not anticipated to have any long term impacts to Taylor Creek. The raw water pipeline to the Collom operation will be routed across Taylor Creek through an elevated structure. An elevated structure minimizes impacts within the stream buffer zone versus other routing options such as boring the pipeline under Taylor Creek, which requires large trenches and greater ground disturbances for equipment to bore under both sides of Taylor Creek. With the elevated structure small disturbances will occur within the stream buffer zone of Taylor Creek. Prior to ground disturbing activities proper best management practices (silt fence or other suitable sediment control measures) will be installed. Topsoil will be windowed and concrete footers will be poured which will provide the base for the structural stability needed to support the pipe over Taylor Creek. Once the pipe and structure steel is installed the limited disturbance areas have the topsoil windrows spread back out and the areas will be seeded. Sediment will be controlled during the construction of these structures and will negate any impacts to Taylor Creek while the ground is disturbed. The sediment control structures will be left in place after reclamation until a suitable vegetative cover has been achieved. The water pipe line and associated infrastructure will not create any long term impacts to Taylor Creek. For a discussion on stream buffer zones from Wilson Creek, Jubb Creek, and Little Collom Gulch please see Volume 15, Section 4.05.18. Rule 4 Performance Standards 4-23 Revision Date: 8/28/17 Revision No.: TRA 15