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RULE 2 PERMITS <br /> not for the need for permitting of coal mining operations,and the desire to be a responsible steward <br /> of the land, the company could select to manage lands in a manner similar to other Western <br /> ranching operations that emphasize red meat production from livestock with little concern for the <br /> needs of wildlife. <br /> Protection of Hydrologic Balance and Water Quality <br /> Based on the data, other references available and reclamation plans previously presented in this <br /> section,the Colowyo Mine will not adversely affect the hydrologic balance or water quality of the <br /> adjacent areas. <br /> The Colowyo Coal Company intends to use all practical methods to maintain the hydrologic <br /> balance and water quality in its present state and may improve the surface water characteristics as <br /> a result of reclamation procedures. The focus of this discussion will center on the permit area as it <br /> is the area of mining disturbance. <br /> The hydrologic balance, previously discussed, will be protected through a number of procedures <br /> designed to mitigate any potential impact from mining. Temporary and permanent diversions will <br /> route runoff away from disturbed areas to minimize erosion and sediment loss. Temporary <br /> channels are designed to safely pass the runoff from a 10-year, 24-hour precipitation event and, <br /> where necessary, will be constructed using bank stabilization methods including energy <br /> dissipators,sediment traps,and dug outs or a combination of these methods.Drainage culverts will <br /> also use energy dissipators at the outlets if necessary so that runoff will not cause additional erosion <br /> and subsequently increased total suspended solids (TSS) levels. Detention ponds will be used to <br /> detain runoff water from the disturbed areas to allow the TSS to settle out and to attain acceptable <br /> concentrations for other parameters consistent with the requirements of the NPDES Permit. Any <br /> Small Area Exemptions (SAE's) employed will be designed to minimize contributions of TSS to <br /> the hydrologic balance. <br /> Infiltration and percolation of precipitation in the mine area may be enhanced by the reclamation <br /> techniques of contour furrowing on hillsides and the continued excellent revegetation success at <br /> Colowyo. Infiltration rates for the pre-mined and post-mine condition of the land were presented <br /> earlier. Striffler and Rhodes (1981) showed through field measurements, using an intense rainfall <br /> simulation, that infiltration capacities of the mulched and revegetated areas were much greater <br /> than the pre-mine estimates. Runoff from the revegetated and contour-furrowed areas has been <br /> minor to date, as documented by Colowyo Mine personnel. Flows from Streeter Gulch will be <br /> moderated with the detention pond. <br /> Moderated flows will continue to pass through the historic drainages. Recharge of the limited <br /> groundwater systems in the mine will not be inhibited and may be enhanced through the use of the <br /> above techniques. <br /> Groundwater protection, per se, is not necessary in the permit area as essentially no continuous <br /> groundwater system exists. Perched aquifers of limited nature will be impacted only in the mine <br /> area property. This water will be evaporated. The quantity of groundwater is minimal as evidenced <br /> by the lack of water in test holes and the dry active pit. <br /> Rule 2 Permits 2.05-48 Revision Date: 12/20/19 <br /> Revision No.: TR-135 <br />