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Rifle Gravel Pit#1 July 2023 <br /> 8.2 Operational Water Depletions <br /> Water depletions will occur during mining operations from water lost with mined aggregate <br /> water used for dust suppression, and evaporation of exposed groundwater. On-site sourced <br /> water will not be used for potable water demands. After mining is completed water <br /> depletions from the pit will be solely from evaporation of the exposed groundwater in the <br /> finished gravel pit pond. <br /> Augmentation of the exposed and captured groundwater is required per Colorado's Revised <br /> Statutes to protect downstream senior water right holders and will be addressed by Scott <br /> prior to subsurface mining. <br /> 8.3 Aquifers <br /> Shallow groundwater, connected to the water table of the Colorado River, saturates the <br /> gravels, and is generally present throughout the project site at a depth of between one and <br /> one-half(1.5) and five (5) feet. The aquifer is alluvial in nature and connected to the <br /> Colorado River. See Attachment C for information regarding the water depths at five boring <br /> locations. <br /> 8.4 Groundwater <br /> Mining operations will expose groundwater. The exposure of groundwater will necessitate <br /> augmentation during mining operations. Augmentation—via a decreed augmentation plan or <br /> a substitute water supply plan (SWSP) —will be in place with the State Engineers Office <br /> (SEO) prior to beginning subsurface mining activities to prevent potential injury to <br /> downstream water rights. The depletions from any captured or exposed groundwater from <br /> the Rifle Pit mining operations will have to be replaced in time, amount, and location during <br /> times of a downstream senior call. <br /> Evaporation from the post-mining exposed 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 during active mining operations). The process of <br /> 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. Scott filed an application for a SWSP which will allow the gravel pit <br /> to operate without causing injury to other water rights holders before a final decree is <br /> entered, with temporary approval from the SEO. This SWSP was submitted on June 13, <br /> 2022 and still hasn't been approved. An SWSP can only be approved for one year, but the <br /> applicant may request renewal of the SWSP by repeating the application. A copy of the <br /> SWSP application is included in Attachment G. <br /> In addition, the gravel pit itself must be permitted as a well with the DWR-SEO because <br /> groundwater is being exposed to evaporation. Scott submitted a gravel pit well permit <br /> application which was received by the DWR-SEO on June 14, 2022. Review of the gravel pit <br /> well permit application is currently pending approval of the SWSP. A copy of the gravel pit <br /> well permit application is included Attachment G. <br /> There are no existing wells on or near the Rifle Pit property. GIS data from the DWR-SEO <br /> was used to confirm nearby wells, none of which are within 200 feet of the Permitted Area. <br /> 49 <br />