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Rifle Gravel Pit#1 June 2021 <br /> Evaporation from the post-mining finished pond will require a decreed augmentation plan. <br /> Active mining operations may be covered by the same augmentation plan or may <br /> temporarily be covered by an SWSP. Scott will file a Water Court application or contract with <br /> West Divide Water Conservancy District (or similar agency) under their decreed umbrella <br /> protection plan for an augmentation plan to replace depletions from the Rifle Pit operations <br /> (after active mining operations and potentially during active mining operations). The process <br /> of obtaining a project specific court-approved decreed augmentation plan can take from 1-3 <br /> years, depending on negotiations with the Division of Water Resources (DWR - SEO) and <br /> any potential opposers. Therefore, Scott will also file an application for a SWSP which will <br /> allow the gravel pit to operate without causing injury to other water rights holders before a <br /> final decree is entered, with temporary approval from the SEO. An SWSP can only be <br /> approved for one year, but the applicant may request renewal of the SWSP by repeating the <br /> application. <br /> There are no existing wells on the Rifle Pit property. Nearby wells that have been identified <br /> are located Figure 43 Exhibit C1, using GIS data from the DWR-SEO. The closest <br /> operating wells are on the adjacent property to the north, owned by Colorado River Ranch, <br /> LLC but are over 600 feet from the mining permit boundary. The dewatering pipeline <br /> installations are temporary and should not impact these wells. If any impact is detected by <br /> the well owners, Scott will work with them to restore full function of said wells. Two other <br /> wells within 600 feet of the permit boundary have been identified but are unused. <br /> 8.4 Surface Water <br /> The Colorado River is generally located north of the mining area and comes as close as <br /> approximately 0.25-mile northwest of the mining area. The property currently has a return <br /> channel of the Last Chance Ditch, which generally bisects the property from east to west <br /> and discharges into the Colorado River. The Last Chance Ditch is located south of the <br /> property on the south side of Interstate 70. The wetlands that are on site were created by <br /> irrigation activities, see Section 4.3 discussion, and will likely disappear in a relatively short <br /> period of time following the onset of dewatering. An existing irrigation tailwater ditch runs <br /> across the property east to west and ultimately discharges into the Colorado River. During <br /> the initial stages of mining, Scott will not disturb the tailwater channel in its existing location <br /> and implement BMPs to prevent mining operations from discharging into or commingling <br /> with these waters. Scott will install a low-water crossing at the existing tailwater channel <br /> crossing or collect the channel in a pipe. <br /> 8.5 Water Management <br /> Incidental runoff moving away from pits and working areas will be controlled using standard <br /> stormwater BMPs. A Colorado Discharge Permit System (CDPS) Construction Stormwater <br /> Permit will be acquired from the CDPHE-WQCD prior to any discharge. See previous water <br /> handling discussions in this document. <br /> 8.6 Project Water Requirements <br /> Rule 6.4.7 requires the operator/applicant shall provide an estimate of the project water <br /> requirements including flow rates and annual volumes for the development, mining and <br /> reclamation phases of the project. The following subsections outline the estimated project <br /> water requirements estimating methods with a summary of the annual active mining and <br /> post-mining demands shown in Table 3 and Table 4, respectively. This information reflects <br /> full development of the property for pending future development of the full site. <br /> 35 <br />