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74 <br />Approximately 856,048 tons were processed through the New Elk Mine <br />preparation plant during 1993. An estimated 52.8 acre-feet were used in the <br />preparation plant. Metering of water taken at the New Elk Mine for domestic <br />use was calculated as 0.25 acre-feet for 1993. <br />Water utilized in and around the mine for dust control is estimated to be a <br />maximum of 50 acre-feet annually. Bathwater requirements, based on 180 <br />employees and a consumption of 70 gallons per minute per man -day is <br />estimated at 1.1 acre-feet. <br />New Elk Coal Company has two water leases, Hill Ranch and the City of <br />Trinidad. Hill Ranch is 180 acre-feet approved for diversion at the mine and <br />storage when in priority. The City of Trinidad lease is 50 acre-feet up to 200 <br />additional acre-feet if needed and available in Trinidad Reservoir as per lease <br />and an Administrative Exchange issued by the District Water Engineer. A 6 - <br />inch pipeline for domestic water supplied by the City of Trinidad water is <br />expected to be extended to the mine when mining resumes. <br />Two dewatering wells may be necessary as mining moves north and east in <br />the Allen Seam. They are required only if the separation pillar between sealed <br />and flood old workings is insufficient to prevent seepage in to new areas of <br />mining. If the wells are required, the appropriate permits will be applied for <br />though the Colorado Division of Water Resources. Consumption of <br />underground mine water in the coal preparation process will require an <br />Augmentation Plan approved by CDWR. The augmentation plan does not <br />increase the amount of water available for mine use, but instead allows the <br />mine flexibility to use mine water instead of diverting leased river water. <br />Sediment Control. Changes to the surface water regime during mining will <br />include an increase in flow to the surface water drainage system from the <br />pumping of mine flows, and a change in the peak hydrograph of waters <br />flowing through the disturbed portions of the permit area. Changes in the <br />amount of flow will vary due to an increase in the disturbance area and <br />greater runoff, but downstream, the presence of sediment ponds will decrease <br />the peak and extend the release of these waters to the Middle Fork of the <br />Purgatoire over a longer period of time than a typical storm event. Qualitative <br />changes will include minor increase in Total Suspended Solids (TDS) from <br />increased weathering of disturbed areas. The increased disturbance will result <br />in an increase in Total Suspended Solids (TSS) in surface waters within the <br />disturbed area, but an overall lower TSS level in surface waters below the <br />sediment ponds. <br />The plan for control of surface water across the mine facilities area is shown <br />on Map 13- Sediment and Surface Water Control <br />Section 2.05 RN -6 10/17/2016 <br />