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Whirlwind Mine Groundwater Characterization Report <br /> those workings and potentially discharge to the surface at the mine portals. Past observations of <br /> mine water discharge, whether from drill hole intercepts or country rock seepage, has been of <br /> the order of about 2 gpm at several of the mines in the study area. This discharge has since <br /> ceased, which may indicate a local depletion of water storage in the source aquifers. <br /> The hydrogeologic conceptual model can be revised as new data become available at the site. <br /> 8.0 MINING HYDROLOGIC EFFECTS <br /> This section addresses the hydrologic effects of mining as proposed by EFR at the Whirlwind <br /> Mine based on the assimilation of the various forms of groundwater-related data, observations <br /> at the mine and vicinity, and the formulation of a rational hydrogeologic conceptual model <br /> presented in the previous sections of this report. The key concerns voiced by DRMS and BLM <br /> (see Section 1.1) are addressed as follows. <br /> 8.1 Potential Impact of Mining on Groundwater <br /> The proposed mining at the Whirlwind Mine involves accessing uranium/vanadium ore in a <br /> mineralized area of the Top Rim of the Salt Wash that will be accessed by the Whirlwind <br /> Decline. To implement this plan, the flooded Whirlwind Decline must be dewatered. EFR has <br /> obtained a water right(Whirlwind Mine Well) and a well permit(No. 66419-F) allowing the mine <br /> to be dewatered and use of the water pumped from the mine for industrial uses. The water right <br /> was originally decreed in Case No. 07CW69, with a subsequent decree (Case No. 13CW3061) <br /> awarding a finding of diligence and making a portion of the conditional right absolute. The <br /> decreed amounts for the right include 5.9 acre-ft per year absolute and 18.5 acre-ft per year <br /> conditional of water to be pumped from the mine at a maximum rate of 0.1780 cubic ft per <br /> second (cfs) (80 gpm). The decreed industrial uses include, without limitation, dewatering of the <br /> mine to allow exploration and mining operations to be conducted, drilling and other mining <br /> activities, dust suppression, moisture in the mined material and waste material removed from <br /> the mine, and evaporation caused by ventilation facilities in the mine. Water discharged from the <br /> mine will be treated and discharged on the surface under a CDPHE WCQD CDPS permit. <br /> Once dewatering has been achieved, water treatment may cease or be reduced. Groundwater <br /> produced in the mine during mining may be used for the decreed industrial uses. The mine <br /> Western Water S Land, Inc. 53 <br />