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Findings of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and SafetEfor 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 <br /> listed 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 <br /> most mines. This is the renewal findings document for the Yoast Mine, which has a five year <br /> permit term. The following findings were reevaluated and updated if necessary to reflect <br /> changes which have occurred during the past permit term. Any stipulations from the original <br /> permit and findings document or subsequent revisions that have been totally resolved to the <br /> satisfaction of 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 <br /> these rules have been complied with (2.07.6(2)(a)). <br /> 2. Based on information contained in the permit application and other information <br /> available to the Division, the Division finds that surface coal mining and reclamation <br /> can be feasibly 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 <br /> the general area on the hydrologic balance, as described in 2.05.6(3), has been made <br /> by the Division. In the past,the Division found that the operations proposed under the <br /> Application have been designed to prevent material damage to the hydrologic balance <br /> outside the proposed permit area [in compliance with Rule 2.07.6(2)(c).] The Division is <br /> in the process of updating the 2010 version of the Yampa River Cumulative Hydrologic <br /> Impact Statement. This update will include an analysis of recent data from water quality <br /> sampling of the Yampa River and tributaries potentially impacted by the Yoast Mine. <br /> See Section B. III(Probable Hydrologic Consequences) of this findings document for <br /> additional discussion of the predicted hydrologic consequences of mining operations at <br /> 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 3 <br /> August 1977, not within: <br /> a) An area designated unsuitable for surface coal mining operations (2.07.6(2)(d)(i)) <br /> b) An area under study for designation as unsuitable for surface coal mining operations <br /> 11 <br />