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It that the areas to be mined presently contribute relatively little water to alluvial valley floors. <br />Any degraded water that might reach an alluvial valley floor would be diluted by other sources. <br />In addition, alluvial valley floors are protected by both stream buffer zones and treatment of runoff <br />from disturbed areas by sediment ponds. <br />The Gossard Loadout is located near the confluence of Wilson and Taylor Creeks and there is a <br />slight potential for waters of degraded quality to reach alluvial materials near the loadout. An <br />alluvial well located near the loadout is monitoring this situation. Runoff from the surrounding <br />areas above the loadout are diverted around the disturbance and waters from the disturbance itself <br />are treated in sediment ponds and must meet CDPS standards before being released. <br />Waters leaching salts from reclaimed spoils may eventually reach Taylor, Wilson and Good Spring <br />Creeks. It is believed that these spoil waters will still meet CDPS standards and will not contribute <br />salts in levels that would warrant changes in mining and reclamation plans. This situation will be <br />monitored through alluvial wells located on Wilson Creek (near the Gossard Loadout) and on <br />Good Spring Creek and West Fork Good Spring Creek, both above and below mining disturbances. <br />A particular concern raised by the Division during the PR -02 review was the potential that high <br />salinity spoil water discharged from proposed South Taylor Pit backfill areas into the West Fork <br />of Good Spring Creek would increase salinity levels on the main stem of Good Spring Creek, <br />potentially causing material damage by significantly reducing forage production on irrigated fields <br />on the Good Spring Creek alluvial valley floor. The potential for material damage was assessed <br />by the Division based on salt loading projections. Based on this analysis, the Division has <br />determined that the proposed operation will not result in material damage to the Good Spring Creek <br />alluvial valley floor. Monitoring of spoil springs, alluvial aquifers on the West Fork and main <br />stem of Good Spring Creek, and surface water in the West Fork and main stem will be conducted <br />to verify that worst case salt loading projections are not exceeded. <br />Details of Colowyo's water monitoring plan are found in Section 4.05.13 of the PAP. <br />D. Specific Findings Required by Rule 4.24 <br />The Division finds that activities proposed by Colowyo will not interrupt, discontinue, or preclude <br />farming on the alluvial valley floors that are irrigated or naturally sub -irrigated. In addition, the <br />proposed activities will not materially damage the quantity or quality of water in the surface or <br />ground water system described above. Surface coal mining and reclamation operations will be <br />conducted to preserve the essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors outside the permit <br />area and to reestablish the essential hydrologic functions of alluvial valley floors within the area <br />throughout the mining and reclamation process if they were to be affected. As determined by this <br />Findings, there are no alluvial valley floors in the general area of the Mine which would be <br />adversely affected by mining operations. <br />Revised Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance August 2018 <br />Permit Renewal No. 7 P a g e 156 <br />