2018-03-20_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A (2)

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Protection of water quality will also be maintained at the present variable limits through the use of the reclamation procedures listed above. Groundwater will not be affected as the supplies are minimal. Surface water will not be significantly impacted in the mine area. An ongoing monitoring program is maintained by the Colowyo Coal Company to verify the conclusions in the permit application. Sampling stations are maintained and samples collected in accordance with the water monitoring plan approved by the Division. Refer to the annual reclamation reports for results of the sampling program. Flow volumes in the Goodspring Creek Alluvial Valley Floor may be impacted by the Colowyo Mine through exercise of water rights. However, the impact is expected to be minimal as the water rights used are owned by the Colowyo Coal Company and are not an integral part of any ranching or farming operation. The Colowyo Augmentation Plan will mitigate the effects on any other water rights and will provide for flows downstream of the affected area. Quality of water in Good Spring Creek will not be affected by the exercise of the water rights. As discussed under Hydrologic Balance - Permit Area, changes in flow volumes caused by mining and reclamation operations will be less than the accuracy range of present day flow measuring equipment. In summary, the Colowyo Mine will not significantly affect the hydrologic balance or water quality of the general area or the permit area and the affect to the hydrologic balance within the permit area will be insignificant. Temporary increases in TDS and associated common ions are expected to affect quality in backfilled spoils within the permit area. Refer to the Annual Reports for additional information regarding hydrologic monitoring. Protection of Public Parks and Historical Places No public parks are located within the permit or adjacent areas; therefore, no public parks will be affected by the proposed mining operations. Likewise, the proposed mining operations will not effect any places included on or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historical Places. Because no public parks or historic places, included on or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historical Places, will be adversely affected, this Section of the regulations is not applicable to this permit application. Surface Mining Near Underground Mining No surface mining activities within the permit area will be conducted within 500 feet of an underground mine. Map 31, Red Wing Mine provides additional information. Previous underground mining has taken place in the vicinity of the Colowyo operation; this previous mining is discussed in Sections 2.04.3 and 2.04.4. Rule 2 Permits 2.05 -51 Revision Date: 6/11/12 Revision No.: RN -06