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<br />Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance October 2018 <br />Partial Phase II and III Bond Release SL-14 Page 12 <br />Well are shown on Figure 7 of the above mentioned report and shows a slight trend of increasing <br />elevation. <br /> <br />It was also observed in the North Good Spring Well that over time, TDS and conductivity has <br />increased slightly as well. However, no concentrations of analytes, including TDS, have increased <br />to levels that are cause for concern and are within the range predicted within Colowyo’s PAP. <br /> <br />Any ground water in alluvial deposits in the bond release area meets the classification of Limited <br />Use and Quality because the alluvial water is of such small volume and is unlikely to be used in the <br />future. The Basic Standards for Ground Water have no water quality standards for the Limited Use <br />and Quality classification. <br /> <br />Surface Water Impacts <br /> <br />The majority of all of the runoff from the East Pit SL-14 areas flow into either the Gulch A Pond or <br />Prospect Pond. Runoff in the West Pit SL-14 areas flows into the East Taylor Pond. All three of <br />these ponds are inspected on a regular basis by the Division as well as quarterly by Colowyo. The <br />Gulch A, Prospect and East Taylor Ponds have been found to be in good repair and properly <br />functioning. None of these ponds are included in the SL-14 Bond Release application. All three <br />ponds are associated with outfalls in the Colorado Discharges Permit System permit number CO- <br />0045161. Exceedances of discharge limitations that have not been the result of runoff (when <br />alternate limitations were in effect) have been very rare and not indicative of a threat to water <br />quality. <br /> <br />Findings on Protection of Hydrologic Balance <br /> <br />Based on the foregoing observations, the Division finds that the Colowyo Mine has minimized <br />disturbance of the hydrologic balance in the SL-14 bond release area and prevented material <br />damage outside the permit area. The Division also finds that Colowyo Mine has not caused <br />hydrologic changes that adversely affect the approved post mining land use in the permit area. <br /> <br />Summary and Conclusions <br /> <br />The Division has completed its review and evaluation of the SL-14 partial Phase II and III Bond <br />Release application submitted by Colowyo for the Colowyo Mine. The Division proposes a Partial <br />Bond Release on 822.4 acres of Phase II and 222.6 acres of Phase III in the East and West Pit. <br /> <br />Based upon a review of the mine permit, the applicant's bond release application, and site <br />inspections, the Division finds that Colowyo has completed backfilling, grading, drainage <br />reestablishment, topsoil replacement, revegetation, and all other reclamation requirements for which <br />Phase II and III Bond Release was requested in accordance with the approved reclamation plan at <br />the Colowyo Mine. The reclaimed area included within the SL-14 bond release request have <br />been restored to the approximate original contour of the pre-mining landscape. Slopes conform <br />to post-mining contours as shown on the approved Post-mining Topography Map of the permit